DMX blended horror, morality, and spiritual turmoil within the masterful “Damien” sequence.
Duality is a dominant theme in DMX’s music. Take into account “X Is Coming,” a chilling contribution to the timeless basic It’s Darkish And Hell Is Scorching. On the observe, which interpolates a Freddy-centric limerick from Nightmare On Elm Avenue, DMX indulges in his darkest fantasies. “I am gunnin’ in your partner, tryin’ to ship the bitch again to her maker, and when you acquired a daughter older than 15, I’ma rape her,” he raps, within the album’s most haunting second. “Take her on the livin’ room ground, proper there in entrance you, then ask you significantly, whatchu wanna do?” Toeing the road between hip-hop and horror, X appears compelled to dole out the satan’s work. Worse, he seems uniquely suited to it. Who higher understands the temperature hell than a person identified to go to?
On the identical album, X dedicates a second to deal with the Lord on “The Prayer,” a sequence that may go on to be a mainstay throughout his discography. Whereas X seems unwilling to repent for his sins, he continues to hunt the creator for steering. “You give me the phrase and solely ask that I interpret, and provides me the eyes that I’ll acknowledge the serpent,” he says. “You already know I ain’t good, however you want me to strive, in contrast to the satan who simply needs me to lie, ’til I die.” In “The Prayer’s” supply, a way cognitive dissonance emerges. Is X merely oblivious to the carnage he has left in his wake? His most brutal impulses have already been documented throughout the challenge. Such a contradiction is, actually, a driving power behind DMX’s thematic attraction. He has seen the satan. Believed his lies. All of the whereas, God’s presence stays, maybe dormant, to maintain him grounded.
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I SAW THE DEVIL
“Damien” seems like It’s Darkish And Hell Is Scorching’s centerpiece. Between X’s alternating cadence, the haunting subject material, and Dame Grease’s ominous instrumental, “Damien” stood out as an intriguing contribution. For one, the apparent parallel with “The Omen,” by which a younger boy the identical identify seems to be a conduit for a demonic presence. Off the bat, it’s clear that X is coping with the diabolical, the serpent with the forked tongue. In X’s interpretation, Devil emerges by means of a mush-mouthed hustler, initially showing below the pretense being a “guardian angel.” Inside X’s first interactions with Damien, guarantees are made. Although X makes an attempt a rationalization course of, his base impulses steer his course. It’s a story as outdated because the Catholic Bible itself.
Because the track progresses, X’s identical violent tendencies from “X Is Coming” proceed to plague him. The second verse finds him committing homicide, solely to be rewarded along with his favourite trifecta: weed, liquor, and keen ladies. Damien even throws in a Mercedes Benz, on the situation that their unholy union stays intact. At this level, X seems keen to throw warning to the wind. The spoils are just too bountiful. But even X, distant although it might be, has a breaking level. By the ultimate verse, X is already enthralled by Damien’s soothsaying. When Damien sends X on a murderous mission, X is keen to oblige. Even when tasked with the homicide his personal good friend. For all we all know, X’s moments bloodsport are the identical macabre nightmares referenced in “X Is Coming.” Given what we’ve obtained to date, is it honest to recommend that X’s violent impulses solely emerge when tempted by the Satan’s presence?
SNAKES, RATS, CATS, AND DOGS
D: Both do it or give me your proper hand, that is what you mentioned
X: I see now ain’t nothin’ however hassle forward
Although chapter one the “Damien” trilogy concluded on an unresolved notice, X would revisit the saga on his subsequent album Flesh Of My Flesh, Blood Of My Blood. The duality X’s persona raged all through the challenge. “I acquired blood on my dick trigger I fucked a corpse,” managed to coexist with the inspirational reflections “Slippin.” As soon as once more, X managed to be disturbingly violent and calmly pious. And as soon as once more, Damien got here by means of to solidify his chokehold. “The Omen” discovered X teaming up with a self-pressed “Antichrist Famous person,” Marilyn Manson. Whereas Dame Grease conjured up a cinematic, nearly Hitchcock-esque instrumental, Swizz Beatz brings the sequel deeper into the realms cosmic horror.
Choosing up the place we left f, X has since recovered from a taking pictures. Naturally, Damien’s hoprints are throughout it. Even X’s once-mighty canine are cowed by his presence. This time round, Damien has shed the veneer, forcing X to simply accept him for what he’s. Throughout the opening moments, we study X’s current homicide spree, which incorporates the lives “two children.” It means little to the Satan, emboldened by X’s weakening resolve. Veiled threats start to sneak into his rhetoric. “What, I ain’t your man no extra? Simply because a n***a do not want a hand no extra?” asks Damien, reminding X the advantages his friendship has yielded. “You understand how we do, if one goes st, all of us take the pussy and go up in her uncooked.”
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We quickly discover out that Damien shouldn’t be above getting his palms soiled. When X’s cousin is murdered by the police, D vows revenge on X’s behalf. “I’mma use the identical gun that you just killed them two children with Is that onerous to reside with?” he asks, prompting a “nah” from X. As soon as once more, X’s violent urges overpower his rational sense. Keep in mind that the satan’s bargains seldom finish and not using a mess. Lo and behold, Damien blows up your entire police station. The physique rely continues to develop. Such atrocities immediate X to aim an escape, just for Damien to challenge a damning reminder. You bought me your soul while you did not say no,” he gloats. It’s only then that X turns to God, as he as soon as did on “The Prayer.” “Forgive me, Father, for I’ve sinned,” pleads the rapper. “Along with your assist, I do know the Satan will not win.”
“I’LL BE BACK, ALRIGHT?”
Although Damien was absent on X’s third challenge And Then There Was X, he reared his head as soon as once more on The Nice Despair. “Damien III,” the ultimate chapter the trilogy, discovered P Killer Trackz behind the boards. Curiously sufficient, the musical improvement the “Damien” saga mirrors the thematic arc, descending deeper into overt insanity. For what it’s value, one thing else has modified. The looming sense violence that permeated his first three albums is basically absent on The Nice Despair. It seems like X has lastly achieved that coveted state peace, teetering nearer to “mild” on the morality spectrum. Damien’s timing is impeccable. Greeting X like an outdated good friend, he wastes little time in sauntering again into the image.
Solely X is ready, retaining D at a distance. Clearly, classes have been realized. For the primary time within the saga, it’s X that holds the higher hand. Because the track progresses, nevertheless, Damien makes an attempt to discount and threaten in equal measure. When his fers materials wealth falter, he resorts to his true nature. “Acquired a spouse and youngsters?” asks Damien. “Good factor they ain’t come throughout them triflin’ children.” Regardless of the threats (threats he himself has realized in “X Is Coming”), X stays steadfast, claiming that he ought to have appeared to God for salvation. By this level, it’s clear that X has damaged free Damien’s grip. He closes the track with a warning and a prayer, invoking Jesus’ help in retaining the Satan from his life. Like that, Damien seems vanquished. However is the injury not already carried out?
In hindsight, there are various methods to interpret DMX’s trilogy. These with a desire for horror fiction will possible discover satisfaction with a literal interpretation; it’s definitely a chilling story, within the vein Stephen King’s The Man In The Black Swimsuit. One other take is extra psychological, with Damien himself representing the darker components X’s psyche. On one other It’s Darkish spotlight, “Cease Being Grasping,” X beforehand waged conflict with himself, utilizing numerous cadences to signify his dichotomous nature. In that sense, “Damien” works on a metaphorical degree, depicting one man’s wrestle between darkness and light-weight. Both approach, the spiritual undertones stay a relentless. However does the story have a cheerful ending? On the floor. Evoking God’s will, DMX managed closed the door on his demons. But such forces nature by no means really depart the premises. They nonetheless rap the windowpane on occasion.
