The New York Times - Louder: DMX (1970-2021)

April 9, 2021

By Caryn Ganz

Pop Music Editor

“Even when DMX was the most popular rapper on the planet, he was a genre of one,” writes Jon Caramanica. “There were no DMX clones in his wake because there was no way to falsify the life that forged him.” The New York rapper’s voice was unmistakable. He vibrated with his own gruff, intense energy. And his story was filled with dramatic peaks and valleys, which gave fans hope that the latest blow — a heart attack last week — would be just another obstacle for him to conquer. But DMX died on Friday after several days on life support at a White Plains, N.Y. hospital, where fans gathered to celebrate his music and pray for his recovery. Listen to what Christopher R. Weingarten calls “a small sampling of an artist with a range that encompassed the shocking, the sincere and the simply incredible” here.

Our fearless critics and reporters had gathered earlier today to discuss “Fearless (Taylor’s Version),” the first of the albums the singer-songwriter has promised to rerecord after her master recordings were sold (and then sold again). How does it sound? Faithful to the original! Which elicited some intriguing and emotional responses from our panel of Swift-perts.

Also this week: news of an unearthed Prince album from 2010, arriving in July (and Jon Pareles’s take on its first track); profiles of Vijay Iyer as he releases a new trio album with Linda May Han Oh and Tyshawn Sorey, and Damon Locks (a onetime bandmate of Fred Armisen) as his Black Monument Ensemble reacts to the reckonings of 2020 with the spiritual, funky album “Now.”

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DMX, Top-Selling but Troubled Rapper, Dies at 50

He released a string of No. 1 albums that reflected his gritty past and featured a gruff and unmistakable lyrical style.

By Daniel E. Slotnik

Chad Batka for The New York Times

An Appraisal

DMX, a Profound Vessel for Pain

The rapper, who died Friday, had no imitators because there was no way to falsify the life that forged him. He was a colossus, a fire-starter and a healer.

By Jon Caramanica

Michael Nagle for The New York Times

Playlist

DMX: Hear 10 Essential Songs

The gruff, evocative Yonkers rapper was a singular talent in hip-hop. He died on Friday after suffering what his family called “a catastrophic cardiac arrest” a week earlier.

By Christopher R. Weingarten

ROUND TABLE

From left: Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images; Jordan Strauss/Invision, via Associated Press

Taylor Swift Remade ‘Fearless’ as ‘Taylor’s Version.’ Let’s Discuss.

Keeping a promise from when her master recordings were sold, Swift has faithfully rerecorded her 2008 album. Our critics and reporters explore its sound, and purpose.

By Jon Caramanica, Joe Coscarelli, Jon Pareles, Ben Sisario and Lindsay Zoladz

PRINCE & THE PLAYLIST

The Playlist

Prince’s Unearthed, Disillusioned Funk, and 10 More New Songs

Hear tracks by Doja Cat featuring SZA, Twenty One Pilots and Rhiannon Giddens with Francesco Turrisi.

By Jon Pareles, Jon Caramanica, Caryn Ganz and Giovanni Russonello

Prince’s ‘Welcome 2 America,’ an Unreleased Album, Is Due Out in July

The politically minded, never-before-heard 2010 album will be the first complete project released from Prince’s storied vault.

By Joe Coscarelli

Continue reading the main story

Damon Locks and the Black Monument Ensemble’s Spiritual, Funky Escape

The Chicago musician’s group is following up its 2019 album, “Where Future Unfolds,” with an LP reacting to the events of 2020 titled “Now.”

By Marcus J. Moore

Elianel Clinton for The New York Times

Vijay Iyer’s New Trio Is a Natural Fit. Its Album Is ‘Uneasy.’

The pianist teamed up with the bassist Linda May Han Oh and the drummer Tyshawn Sorey for a record that came together during a period of tragedy and unrest.

By Giovanni Russonello

Rachel Papo for The New York Times

At 91, John Cullum Is Ready to Try Something New

The Tony-winning musical theater actor and TV star planned to debut a cabaret show in 2019. Illness hit, then the pandemic. But he hasn’t been stopped.

By Laura Collins-Hughes

Making Music Visible: Singing in Sign

A new project is producing sign language covers of 10 seminal musical works recorded by Black female artists.

By Corinna da Fonseca-Wollheim

5 Minutes That Will Make You Love Brahms

Listen as Carlos Santana, Branford Marsalis and others pick their favorites of the moody master of 19th-century music.

NEWS

Cultural Venues’ Quest for Billions in Federal Aid Is Halted by Glitch

On the first day nightclubs, movie theaters and other arts organizations hurt by the pandemic could apply for $16 billion in federal aid, the system malfunctioned. No applications got through.

By Ben Sisario and Stacy Cowley

Company Will Offer Refunds to Buyers of ‘Satan Shoes’ to Settle Lawsuit by Nike

The unauthorized sneakers, which contain a drop of blood and cost $1,018, sold out in less than a minute last month.

By Neil Vigdor

Neil Diamond Bio-Musical Sets Sights on Broadway

“A Beautiful Noise,” featuring songs from the hit-maker's deep catalog, will play a monthlong run in Boston in 2022, with New York planned next.

By Peter Libbey

The Charts

Lil Nas X Rides a Second Wave of Controversy to No. 1

The rapper’s “Montero (Call Me by Your Name)” debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart following a dust-up on social media over the song’s video and a lawsuit from Nike.

By Ben Sisario