Grand Champ

Infobox Album |
Name = Grand Champ
Type = Album
Artist = DMX


Released = September 16, 2003
Recorded = 2003
Genre = Hardcore hip hop, Gangsta rap, East Coast hip hop
Length = 74:40
Label = Def Jam Records, Ruff Ryders
Producer = DMX, Darrin Dean, Joaquin Dean, Kanye West, Tuneheadz, Rockwilder, Ron Browz, Swizz Beatz, Dame Grease, PK
Reviews =
* Allmusic Rating|3|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:ryaxqj6wojka link]
*Mojo Rating|3|5
*Rolling Stone Rating|3|5 [http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/297409/grand_champ link]
* "Spin" (B-)
Last album = "The Great Depression"
(2001)
This album = "Grand Champ"
(2003)
Next album = "Year of the Dog… Again"
(2006)

"Grand Champ" is the fifth album by American rapper DMX, released in 2003. Grand Champ features the popular singles "Where the Hood At?" and "Get it on the Floor". The album sold 312,000 in its first week and debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200, extending DMX's position as the only artist in history to have 5 albums (and his entire album catalog) debut at #1.

When compared to the artist's previous releases, this was the greatest under-achiever, eventually achieving a rating of Platinum, although it was #1 on the Billboard 200, it's shelf life was relatively short.

Open for discussion is the albums credibility, considered by many fans as 'too formulaic' (featuring all popular hip hop marketing devices, including several guest appearances, a club banger to rope in sales ("Get It On The Floor") a slow, R&B based ballad ("Don't Gotta Go Home"), as well as the constant skits and intervals which did not so regularly appear on his previous albums) and DMX's recurring subject matter, which after 4 albums, is, as fans claim, wearing thin.

The album originally contained a song entitled "Ruled Out", a hard-hitting diss track aimed towards former collaborator and friend Ja Rule, however, Def Jam Records (who coincidentally owns the distributor rights to Rule's 'Murder Inc. Records) were highly displeased by the track and urged for its removal . A previous version of "Fuck Y'all" was also considered to be the lead-off single for 'The Great Depression', but due to the obvious explicit content of the title alone, the song would have substantial problems gaining radio airplay.

On the 'UK Bonus track' edition of the album, the hit single lifted from the '03 film "Cradle 2 the Grave", 'X Gon Give It To Ya' is track #24.

"Grand Champ" was also released in an "edited" version that replaces some violence, most drug content, and all profanity with sound effects and in some instances, blanks them out completely leaving only the music. "Grand Champ" is the most highly censored of all of DMX's albums, including "Year of the Dog... Again". The explicit version censors out the words "reloaded" and "slugs" on the track, "Where The Hood At?". Only "slugs" is censored from the edited version however.

The title "Grand Champ" is an explicit reference to American "street" dog fighting. The term "grand champion" refers to a fighting dog that has won at least five bouts with no losses. This is also a likely reference to the fact that "Grand Champ" represents the fifth studio album released by this artist that has achieved Platinum status and debuted at #1.

This was DMX's final album release on Def Jam Records.

Track listing

*Early pressings of the album came with a bonus DVD.
**Bonus Tracks

Samples

*"Where The Hood At" contains a sample of "Young, Gifted & Black" as performed by Big Daddy Kane
*"We Go Hard" contains a sample of "Didn't I Fool You" as performed by Ruby Andrews
*"The Rain" contains a sample of "Will She Meet The Train In The Rain" as performed by Greg Perry

Charts

References

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