“X Gon’ Give It To Ya” by DMX is a straight-up declaration of dominance and a celebration of hardcore resilience. The Dark Man X rawly intertwines his struggle-filled background with his aggressive approach to rap, elevating the realness of the game while throwing down a gauntlet to all pretenders.
From the jump, DMX asserts his ownership of the rap game, declaring, “This rap shit is mine, motherfucker.” He’s distancing himself from the fakers, issuing a wakeup call to listeners. He repeatedly uses phrases like “It’s what you hearin'” to emphasize the authenticity and immediacy of his music.
The song’s hook, “X gon’ give it to ya,” is more than just a catchy phrase. This is DMX’s credo, a relentless declaration of his intention to dominate the rap game and deliver his unfiltered reality to the audience. When he talks about knocking open doors with the “non-stop pop-pop, from stainless steel,” he’s referencing the relentless force of his rap delivery, battering down barriers with his lyrical gunfire.
The line “I’m a jail nigga” references DMX’s repeated run-ins with the law. This background informs his fearless attitude and his readiness to confront life’s challenges (“face the world like it’s Earl in the bullpen”). He’s not glamorizing the thug life, he’s just laying out his experiences and his reality. His survival mentality extends to his take on rap – it’s him against everyone else.
When DMX rhymes, “I’ve been doin’ this for 19 years / Niggas wanna fight me? Fight these tears / I put in work and it’s all for the kids / But these cats done forgot what work is,” he’s calling out the industry for losing touch with the essence of struggle that forms the core of hip-hop. He acknowledges his longevity in the game, and how his hard-won successes are for the sake of the youth. He’s a veteran now, schooling the newbies on what it truly means to hustle and work hard.
At the heart of “X Gon’ Give It To Ya” is a deep conviction – it’s all about standing for something real and genuine. “It ain’t even about the dough / It’s about gettin’ down for what you stand for, yo, for real,” DMX proclaims. This line speaks volumes – he doesn’t rap for the capital gain, but for the love of the craft and in order to speak truth to realities he’s lived and seen.
So, when you vibe to X’s raw delivery and rugged beats, remember what’s beneath the grit – a heart that’s genuine, a spirit that’s uncompromising, and a voice that changed the game forever. DMX gave it to us, no cap, pure and unfiltered, changing the landscape of hip-hop in the process.
