Released: 1998
In “Damien”, DMX delves into a gritty, chilling narrative on his rise to rap fame, and the dark bargain he strikes along the way. The song employs a back-and-forth dialogue with a deceitful, seductive character named ‘Damien’, who appears to personify the temptations and pitfalls of the rap game, and potentially, the devil himself.
The opening verses set the scene: DMX is battling despair, longing for a ‘guardian angel’. Enter Damien, offering to ‘hold him down’ and propel him to stardom. The character’s name ‘D’, being the same as DMX’s, suggests an alter ego or darker side, a whispering voice encouraging DMX to embrace a life of hedonism and violence for success. When DMX mentions to his son about his potential ‘friend’, the reference to ‘Chuckie’, a murderous doll from horror flicks, further underscores the lurking danger.
The refrain, ‘The snake, the rat, the cat, the dog / How you gon’ see them if you living in the fog?’ is an ominous caution. The ‘fog’ symbolizes blindness to reality due to greed and ambition, while the animals symbolize different deceptive characters in the rap industry who can’t be seen clearly due to the fog.
As the song progresses, DMX basks in the spoils of his success, but the cost becomes clear when Damien asks for ‘favors’ in return. Initially, DMX is willing to commit violence for his newfound ally. However, when asked to betray his old friend Sean, DMX hesitates, realizing the destructive path he’s on. ‘I see now, it ain’t nothing but trouble ahead’, signifies his regret and foreboding about his choices.
The song ends with the phrase ‘To be continued…’ reflecting the ongoing struggle DMX faces, as his career continues to unfold. The ‘snake, rat, cat, dog’ refrain becomes a chilling echo, hinting at the lurking dangers awaiting in the ‘fog’.
Raw and candid as ever, DMX uses “Damien” to depict the seductive allure of fame and success in the music industry and the ethical sacrifices necessitated along the way. A dark allegory wrapped in a rap dialogue, “Damien” remains a poignant reflection on the true cost of fame and success in hip-hop.
