Snoop Dogg Verzuz DMX: a battle between super humans in Hip-Hop
In the opening of the first Iron Man film, Tony Stark is on a ride along in a convoy with some U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan.
He is there to see the work of his weaponry. He is crass and confident as ever, joking with the soldiers and easing their tension. One even asked to take a picture with Stark.
Before the picture is even snapped, the convoy is attacked. Stark is kidnapped and held for ransom by a group of terrorist hired by a man who is partners with Stark.
Stuck in a cave, Stark and his assistant are help captivate. They must build a missile for the terrorist group, or lose their lives. After months of working, the men decide to build a secret weapon to help Stark escape. Stark barley escapes, using the first variation of the Iron Man armor to assist him.
He works on his craft, builds a better suit, adds that touch of red and gold, and voila! He’s officially Iron Man.
Nick Fury is the Dr Dre to Iron Man’s Snoop Dogg. Fury knew Stark was capable of bigger things than a billionaire weapons shill turned superhero philanthropist. Dre knew Snoop was destined for stardom.
Throughout each Avengers film, Stark added a new touch to the suit. He’s the most charismatic Avenger and the most malleable.
Iron Man and Snoop Dogg share similar characteristics that make them superhuman.
Since 1992, Snoop has been nothing short of a Hip-Hop super human. Coming on the scene then as Snoop Doggy Dogg on the “Deep Cover” soundtrack with Dre Dre, Snoop was equipped with a sinister flow that was unheard of. Him and Dre brought the world G-Funk with albums “The Chronic,” and his magnum opus, “Doggy Style.”
But like Stark, controversy and pending serious consequences ensued for Snoop. It’s easy to forget–and gen Z kids probably don’t know at all– but Snoop was the scariest person in in the early 90’s to white America. He’s the guy who hangs out with Martha Stewart and does The General insurance commercials, long removed from the man who terrified suburban white parents and fascinated their kids.
In 1993, Snoop was charged with 1st degree murder after a rival gang member was shot and killed by his body guard. The case was acquitted in 1996.
He also faced division within his own camp at Death Row Records. After the murder of Tupac in 1996, tension was still high and fingers were still being pointed between Death Row and Bad Boy Records. Snoop received death threats from his label boss, Suge Knight. After months of living in the shadows, Snoop is extricated from his contract with Death Row through the negotiation of Percy “Master P” Miller. Snoop is a new man and went on to exercise his new powers on a new label.
While the first two albums on No Limit were shaky and needed to work out the kinks like Stark’s first suit, by “The Last Meal,” Snoop perfected his powers as the most malleable rapper. He could adjust to the South with hits like the bombastic “Down for My Niggas,” and “Back up off me.” Snoop reacquainted with Dr Dre and Timberland laced him with a new sound.
He was due for another tier. He hooked up with for Pharell and it took Snoop to another level. “Rhythm & Gangsta” is still a good-ass time as much as it was in 2004. And he stayed with a bag of tricks.
On 2007’s “Ego Trippin,” Snoop sings on the erotic “Sexual Seduction.” He changed alter egos depending on the genre of music. He was Snoopzilla for “7 days of funk” with veteran funk artist and producer Dam-Funk. He’s inspired by Rastafarianism and he becomes Snoop Lion for “Reincarnated.” Then in 2018, Snoop produced non-secular music. He released “Bible Of Love,” which featured gospel heavyweights Marvin Sapp, Mary Mary, Kim Burrell and Fred Hammond.
There is nothing Snoop Dogg is afraid to touch. He can try anything without sacrificing who he is. He has white America eating out his palm. Even when he is wrong, like calling Oprah’s bestie out of her name on Instagram, he’s still smooth enough to slide without it costing him any major platforms.
Bruce Banner, a scientist who’s regarded for his work in biochemistry, gamma radiation and nuclear physics, works on a secret project to help create the super soldier serum (Captain America). Banner was exposed to the radiation in an experiment gone awry. He becomes The Hulk, a giant, green-mad man when he’s emotionally compromised.
He’s the weapon they speak of in the MAD agreement but for The Avengers. Brilliant in science and destructive in war.
That’s who DMX was for Def Jam records.
“It’s Dark and Hell is Hot” debuted May 12, 1998 and tore up the Billboard charts. It went no. 1 and was certified four time platinum by 2000. DMX’s debut filled a void that was missing after Tupac and Biggie passed. There was a ruggedness and vulnerability like ‘Pac with story telling ability that came with a wickedness with songs like “Damien,” and “I can feel it.”
No one would necessarily call ‘X a ladies man, but Drake needed his blessing to sample “How’s It Going Down” for 2015’s “Views.” And if DMX is The Hulk throughout IDAHIH, then he’s Banner on “Prayer.”
‘X was never shy about bearing his soul. During the battle, X freestyled and casually dropped how he was sexually abused as a teenager by a woman 13 years old than him.
The world appreciated the honesty and raw energy from the him.
Def Jam didn’t seem to mind either. The label promised him a bonus before the end of 1998 if he could turn in another album.
“Lyor said if I could do another album in 30 days, I’d get a million-dollar bonus,” DMX explained. “That was the whole drive.”
On December 22, 1998 DMX dropped “Flesh Of My Flesh Blood Of My Blood.” He recorded the album in 30 days and it leans into the balancing of being dark man X and Earl Simmons.
On the opening track “Bring your whole crew,” he barks “I got blood on my hands and there’s no remorse/I have blood on my dick because I fucked a corpse/I’m a nasty nigga.”
And he brings along his Yonkers brethren, The Lox, for “We don’t give a fuck,” and opens with the battle cry “when it rains/ niggas get wet/stay dry.”
It’s The Hulk in him.
DMX gave us Bruce Banner/Earl Simmons with the Mary J. Blige assisted “Coming From.” On “Slippin’,” X accomplished the hardest thing there is to do in music–make the people feel you. And 22 years later, that song still puts chills on my arm. Oh, and without that song, we probably don’t get this guy.
Snoop could have been out of here after two albums. DMX has battled legal and drug issues for years and recently seem to find peace.
Back in April, X could be seen giving a bible study while smoking a cigarette on Instagram Live. It’s like Banner accepting not what he is, but who he is when he permanently stayed as The Hulk in “Endgame.”
Regardless how people feel about Snoop and DMX, and who’s catalog is better is missing the point.
This Verzuz battle was about two superstars in Hip-Hop who came together, told each other I love you, hey dawg, we made it and gave the world a show.
