Opened with a prayer, DMX’s voice rising in the staccato cadence on the cobblestone road of our memories. These two legendary MC’s were staged similarly to Bounty Killah and Beenie Man, two mic stands, sitting area a common open space. Snoop danced, X growled and magic happened.
Round 1 – Snoop Dogg’s “Deep Cover” vs. DMX’s “Intro”
Snoop went first with 187 classic, the “first song that you know me from”. DMX did an acapella introduction, had us wondering what he was doing and then the beat hit “Where my dogs at, we right here dog”. Round 1 DMX
Round 2: Snoop Dogg’s “Who Am I? (What’s My Name?)” vs. DMX’s “What’s My Name?”
Round 2 – Snoop Doggy Dog…Gfunk and live bars from Snoop, his laid back style perfectly suited for this format. DMX accepted the challenge and said ya’ll want to know what my name is? I think the DJ was surprised, seems as if this was less the planned order than a response to Snoop’s song choice. Either way two barks into it and one What Ya’ll Really Want and I was boppin. Snoop gave him mad love and stated he wanted to spit the second verse. “You aint’ hear me with them ad-libs”. Round 2 DMX
Round 3: Snoop Dogg’s “Gin and Juice” vs. DMX “Get at Me Dog”
Round 3 – Snoop said he was going to need a lil something to drink, DMX stated wouldn’t be Gin & Juice and after a line, the iconic groove dropped. Gin & Juice, the classic “Laid Back”…the second verse was with the remixed beat, GFunk synths, bounce to the ounce rhythms and at the coda the classic “rolling down the street smoking….” Returned. DMX shouted out to people and Cali and asked “WHERE’S MY DOG’S AT”. Tough round but the “get at me Dog” took it for me…blame it on my Que Dawg bias but something about “where my dawg’s at feels true. Ok Ok, Snoop won the round with that classic. Round 3 and I have it 2-1 DMX.
Great interlude, the “get at me dog”, according to DMX came from a conversation between Snoop and DMX backstage in New York when DMX first heard it from Snoop. DMX thanked Snoop for the inspiration, they in turn thanked the father of Gfunk beats…George Clinton. The friendship and camaraderie is real between these two legends.
Round 4: Dr. Dre feat. Snoop Dogg’s “Dre Day” vs. DMX’s “Some X S–t”
Bowowow yaye snoop dog’s in the house. DMX gratzed Snoop for spitting G-shit and then said but Imma spit some DMX shit. Tell me how ya feeling now. I’m absolutely biased, this is the conclusion I’m coming to. Coming in I was thinking Snoop in a rout…and I find it 3-1 DMX after four rounds.
Snoop wanted to give a shout out to the celebrities watching…I was literally expecting him to list of the myriad of names scrolling in my chat window, absolute hip hop dignitaries, he points to the screen and says out to you, you and you. Great comedic timing.
Round 5: Tupac & Snoop Dogg’s “2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted” vs. DMX’s “Stop Being Greedy”
Gangsta Party, 2pac and Snoop, not a lot that beat that, just on strength. The needy by DMX from the iconic album hell is hot. At some point I need to give another round to Snoop…it aint yet. 4-1 DMX
In between songs, in acknowledgement of the respective brilliance being displayed Snoop quipped to DMX with regard to the challenge “Two dogs, one motherfucking cage and one bowl of dog food”.
Round 6: Snoop Dogg feat. C-Murder & Magic’s “Down 4 My N’s” vs. Jay-Z feat. DMX’s “Money, Cash, H–s”
Ok here we go. The collab section has initiated. C-Murder’s epic song. Down for My N’s. DMX response Money Cash Hoes (Where My N’s)….oh this one hurts. Two of my favorite stroll songs. 4-2 DMX
Round 7: Snoop Dogg “Aint No Fun” vs. Aaliyah feat. DMX’s “Come Back in One Piece”
Snoop feeling the pressure went G-Funk, the legendary Nate Dawg, the King of the Hooks! DMX pulls out the classic Aaliyah hook on Come Back in One Piece. What a battle. Another round to Snoop buttt apparently the chat room feels different. I’m still going it Snoop 4-3.
Another comedic interaction. Snoop mentioned that he was going to have to go in his bag. DMX responded you go in bags, we going in pockets. I guffawed.
Round 8: Snoop Dogg feat. Xzibit’s “B—h Please” vs. DMX “X Gon’ Give It To Ya”
No Limit Snoop is truly limitless. Do it doggystyle. X Gone Give it To You.. 5-3 DMX don’t get @ me dog. LOL.
Round 9: Snoop Dogg’s “Gz and Hustlas” vs. DMX’s “Who We Be”
Odd choice by Snoop, that’s my way of saying I don’t know it. The keys are nice, the flow great but given his catalog I’m wondering how Gz made the set list. Chance for DMX to steal an easy round or save a hit. I came in assuming that DMX catalog was far thinner but the beat drops and it wasn’t just me “They Don’t Know” was timely “the bullshit, the drama, the guns, the armor, the city, the farmer, the babies, the mama. 6-3 DMX
Swizz Beatz announces 500k streaming the Gram on a Wednesday night! It’s a dope event.
Round 10: Snoop Dogg’s “Tha Shiznit” vs. DMX’s “Get It On the Floor”
187…and he ends on don’t try to see Snoop but then the beat drops and well Get it on the Floor..7-3
Round 11: DMX’s “F—-n Wit’ D” vs. Snoop Dogg and the Eastsidaz’s “Lay Low”
DMX with Get at Me Dog…as a former offensive lineman, I hated sprints…DMX delivery is a full forced anaerobic exercise and clearly he has my cardio or lack thereof…jus sayin. Snoop breaks out another classic Nate Dawg chorus with Lay Low. I’m going to have to reconsider my scoring, but ya know this is how boxing refs feel, round for round…its 8-3 DMX.
Round 12: DMX’s “What These B—–s Want” vs. Snoop Dogg “Beautiful”
What these Bitches want from a Nigga there is literally nothing Snoop can do to take this round, absolutely nothing…then the song dropped, Beautiful and I Just want you to Know… I’m wrong again, Snoop won this round 8-4 DMX
Round 13: DMX’s “How’s It Goin’ Down” vs. Snoop Dogg’s “Pump Pump”
DMX plays one for the honeys Hot its Going Down. Snoop spitting BARS. My personal rule is no tie rounds so DMX by a hair 9-4 DMX.
DMX jokes about the fact he used to take his shirt off for this song but given his current physique that won’t be happening. Snoop offers that if we get 9.5 million viewers they’d both take their shirts off. DMX retorts if we both take our shirts off we gone look like the number 10. Another guffaw!
Round 14: DMX’s “It’s All Good” vs. Dr. Dre feat. Snoop Dogg’s “B—hes Ain’t S–t”
DMX jokes about recording the song in LA, then points out that everyone from NYC thinks LA is anywhere in Cali, Oakland, San Diego…all LA. This song was actually recorded in LA however at Magnolia Studies. Snoop starts his track Bitches Aint Shit…DMX popped up and started spitting the lyrics with such zeal I thought it was his song. Easy win for Snoop. 9-5
DMX announces that Snoop’s track is his favorite when he and his fiancé have umm how to put this… disputes. Another great round of banter. Two grown black men sharing their respect and love for each other and celebrating their extraordinary talents.
Round 15: DMX’s “Slippin'” vs. Snoop Dogg’s “Murder Was the Case”
Slipping I’m Falling Can’t Get Up. DMX wraps up an energetic hype performance with this a story about the origins. Stating this was his pain, “write your pain”. Then X did an acapella verse about his first sexual experience, essentially about an incident of child rape (he was 13 she was 26) and how it lead to his sexual exploration and impacted his relationships. He also shared the trauma of his mom beating him and how violence was became a part of him. Snoop responded with the most honest song he’s written. Murder was the Case. I want to call this a draw. Then I recall that while on trial for literal murder, on bail for the same, Snoop gets wheeled out on stage to rap “Murder was the case that they gave me” at the MTV awards. They both ‘write your pain” but round to Snoop. 9-6 DMX
Round 16: DMX “N—az Done Started Something” vs Snoop Dogg “Doggy Dogg World”
DMX with the gangsta song; Snoop with the response Ta Dow. Snoops round 9-7
Round 17: LL Cool J feat. Method Man, Redman, Canibus, DMX, & Master P’s “4,3,2,1,” vs. Snoop Dogg feat. The Eastsidaz’s “I Luv It”
DMX guest appearance 4,3,2,1. This song deserves its own article. First, it was my initial exposure to X and Canibus. Second it was the jump off for the famous Canibus LL legendary battle. 3rd it featured one of the dopest Redman Method Man co-features. Lastly, it was LL at his last peak.
BIO BREAK! DMX needed to be excused. Snoop regals a story about a friend who remains unnamed that sent him a video of his outfit that he planned to wear that night…for the Versuz battle…in his living room. I now feel bad for not having a haircut since Covid.
On return Snoop laments not being on the track, asks why the couldn’t “let me wiggle in there and get 8 bars?” and does a little sideways wiggle to accent the notion. Snoop is entertainment. EastSiders the joy is contagious but the round goes to DMX. 10-7 DMX
Round 18: The Lox Featuring Lil’ Kim & DMX’s “Money, Power & Respect” vs. 50 Cent feat. Snoop Dogg’s “P.I.M.P. Remix”
Money Power Respect and DMX is likely going to win this. PIMP Snoop version. Dope AF but its 11-7 DMX.
Round 19: DMX’s “Ruff Ryders’ Anthem” vs. Dr. Dre feat. Snoop Dogg’s “Nuthin’ But a ‘G’ Thang”
Can we start this off with a fact? Swizz Beatz was 16 when he produced this track. Let that sink in a second. Rough Ryders Anthem and DMX did the live Remix…frankly there are few songs that I think can touch that. Snoop answered with one of the most iconic songs ever. G Thang…I’m biased but objective and its Snoops round. 11-8 (personally I prefer Rough Ryder’s Anthem Remix but this G Thang is on the pantheon of iconic hits).
Round 20: DMX’s “Party Up (Up in Here)” vs. Snoop Dogg feat. Pharrell’s “Drop It Like It’s Hot”
The song starts Ya’ll Gone Make Me Lose My Mind and as far as I’m concerned it’s a wrap. Party anthem, unfukwitable. That’s DMX all day. Then the four count refrain that Pharrell is known for and Snoop’s laced out voice rises with a Drop it like its Hot…. Snoops round. 11-9
Post battle DMX kicked Where the Hood At. Snoop reenacts the Source scene, the East Coast don’t got no love for Snoop and Dr. Dre? Snoop Hold Up Heeeyyyyyyyy. Shocking he never did Still Dre. The two of them just sat and freestyled bars. Snoop encouraging DMX and DMX delivering.
A true hip hop night.
