Dark Man X

Does anyone else miss DMX? I sure do. I remember when he came on the scene and I thought he would soon be taking his place amongst Pac, Nas, Jay-Z, & Biggie. He seemed so raw. He was exactly what was needed in a time where rap music was becoming bogged down with materialism and simple lyrics. He was a breath of fresh air. His story was compelling also. He came from nothing and planned on becoming a preacher when he was done with his rap career. This was evident by those stirring prayers that he included on his albums. The live versions were even better. Those were the good old days. Lately, DMX has become sort of a cautionary tale amongst MCs. His legal woes and battles with drug addiction are painful to watch. It is even more uncomfortable to hear him speak out against Jay-Z's entrepreneurial status and the West Coast's inadequacy. I never thought the dog would sound like a hater. Every now and again, I see him make an appearance on Def Poetry or something like that, where I get brief flashes of YO's favorite son. When I really want to reminisce; I throw on It's Dark & Hell Is Hot and listen to track 19 "Niggas Done Started Something". The last verse is vintage DMX at his best. I don't know if it was putting out so many albums so fast, or getting caught up in the fame and movies; he just seemed to lose his way somewhere along the line. I don't know. I do know this; DMX is an ingredient that the game is missing and it seems a little bland without him. That's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?