While both Swizz Beatz and DMX himself have disputed the authenticity of a recently announced album set to be released in his name, the CEO of Seven Arts Entertainment has released a statement claiming that the album is the second to be built from “52 masters acquired by Seven Arts from DMX and his producers in 2012.”
“DMX and his team fully cooperated on the production of this album,” the statement continues. “Redemption of the Beastwas the second album planned for release with DMX in September of 2012, following the release of Undisputed. These new masters represent the best of this legendary artist and offer production by some of the best in the industry. All fans are invited to listen to the music, which is the real thing, the ‘rough and ready’ of DMX. The music and artistry speaks for itself.”
Earlier today, a publicist for the emcee released a statement in which DMX said, “that’s all stolen music.”
“I spoke to DMX today and he was unaware of the upcoming announcement of the Redemption Of The Beast album,” Domenick Nati of Nati Celebrity Services wrote. “When I read him the projected track list of songs to be released X said, ‘that’s all stolen music.’ DMX and myself are highly disappointed that trust was broken and that these songs may be released and sold without X’s knowledge or consent. DMX and Swizz Beatz are working on an album together and fans should look to their official social media accounts for accurate information.”
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Redemption of the Beast is now the second bungled release from DMX’s label signing and his latest statements come almost exactly three years after he expressed initial apprehension regarding his deal with United Media & Music Group, a label connected to Seven Arts on previous deals. In the midst of dealing with a series of release date woes he blamed on the label in early 2012, DMX told Billboard that “it’s only one album though” after speaking harshly about UMMG specifically.
“The fact that [the label] chose to tell me that makes me reconsider whether or not I made the right decision to fuck with them,” he said of a release date announcement for his Undisputed album that year. “It’s only one album, though. It’ll be what it is. But I think [it will come out] second quarter, definitely.”
Expanding on his rift with the label, X said, “It’s like, what the fuck, man? Do what you say you’re gonna do—do me like you would do any other artist. Like, damn, stick to the fuckin’ script, you know? Mean what you say. You don’t gotta lie to me.”
Earlier this week, Swizz Beatz took to Instagram to speak out against the release.
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“I see a lot of people hitting me about this album!!!” he wrote. “I can tell you 100% this is not the album X and I are working on!!!! (I feel like Timbo with the Aaliyah movie rite now) SMH !!!!!! #DontdisrespecttheDog We Got Fire coming.”
Check out HipHopDX’s coverage of the new DMX album in the DX Daily below:
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