DMX Reveals He Has Reunited w/ Def Jam in His First Post-Prison Interview

After a year-long prison stint, Dark Man X is getting back to the booth.

This month's issue of GQ features DMX's first interview since being released from prison. In his interview with Mark Anthony Green, he revealed his plans to release an album on Def Jam in the near future.

READ: The Secret History Of DMX’s It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot

After releasing his first five studio albums on Def Jam, Ruff Ryders Entertainment released 2006's Year of the Dog...Again through Sony Urban Music and Columbia Records. In 2012, X released Undisputed through Bloodline Records and Seven Arts Films.

It's good to be back home...I wanted to be a part of Def Jam since 1985...I found out that Run's last name was Simmons, and Russell's last name was Simmons. And Russell was running Def Jam...At that point, I was so naive then. I was like, “Yo. If I could just meet them.” And like, “Yo, my last name is Simmons too." And that's it.

When asked about the challenges of releasing an album in 2019's musical climate, he stated that his process is no different from the early years of his career.

READ: Swizz Beatz Reveals DMX is Working on New Music Post-Prison

"The standard that I hold myself to is the same," he told Green. "Better than everything I hear. I need to be better than everything that I hear...If you don't give people something incredible to listen to, they're going to listen to whatever. And I get that."

He also gave shoutouts to rappers he respects, J. Cole and Kendrick Lamar, who he called "lyricists."

Read the full interview at GQ.

Source: GQ