Reviewing History: DMX – Grand Champ (2003

DMX – Grand Champ (2003)

Hungry Blvd Rating: 7.5 / 10

When DMX dropped Grand Champ in late 2003, it was a historic moment in hip-hop. This release made X the first artist in history to have their first five studio albums debut at number one on the Billboard 200. At the time, it was heavily promoted as his final album, with DMX threatening retirement to focus on his family and church. Because of this, the project carried a massive, final-lap weight to it. It was the peak of the Ruff Ryders era, but also a moment where the formula was starting to show minor signs of exhaustion.

Grand Champ delivers exactly what fans wanted from a DMX project: pure, unadulterated aggression paired with deep, conflicting spiritual introspection. The production is a powerhouse showcase of early 2000s street rap, leaning heavily on Swizz Beatz, Dame Grease, and even an early beat from Kanye West. It balances massive, high-energy club anthems with darker, grittier street tales. However, true to the era, the album is undeniably bloated. With 23 tracks (including skits and a bonus track), it requires endurance to get through in one sitting, even if the highs are incredibly high.

Looking closely at the cover art, the visual direction is pure, unfiltered canine aggression. The composition centers entirely on a muscular, chained pitbull standing firmly on the dirt. It utilizes a heavy sepia and rust color palette, framed by a faded chain-link fence texture and a double border of barbed wire. The typography is striking: it features a bold, yellow, stencil-like distressed font for "DMX" at the top, while the bottom anchors the title "GRAND CHAMP" inside a vintage, ornate western-style plaque with a dog emblem in the center.   

From a Hungry Blvd design perspective, this is a masterclass in establishing a gritty brand identity, but it can look a bit washed out due to the heavy brown/sepia tones. Placing this earthy, rusted artwork against your signature pitch-black or dark blue website background will provide the necessary high-contrast framing to make that yellow stencil typography truly pop off the screen.

Track-by-Track Breakdown

1. Dog Intro (3:32)

A menacing, cinematic opening where DMX asserts his dominance over the rap game. It sets the aggressive tone perfectly.

Score: 7/10

2. My Life (feat. Chinky) (3:09)

A deeply personal, introspective track where X reflects on his struggles, backed by a soulful vocal hook.

Score: 7.5/10

3. Where the Hood At? (4:46)

One of the most iconic, high-energy anthems in hip-hop history. The Dame Grease and Tuneheadz beat is legendary, and X's explosive delivery makes this an undeniable classic.

Score: 10/10

4. Dogs Out (4:03)

Produced by Kanye West, this track has a slightly different bounce than typical Ruff Ryders beats. It’s a solid street cut with great energy.

Score: 7.5/10

5. Get It On The Floor (feat. Swizz Beatz) (4:22)

A massive, chaotic Swizz Beatz club banger. The beat is frantic, and it perfectly matches DMX's barking, high-octane delivery.

Score: 8.5/10

6. Come Prepared (Skit) (0:35)

A brief, aggressive interlude.

Score: 3/10

7. Shot Down (feat. 50 Cent & Styles P) (3:42)

A heavy-hitting collaboration. Getting 50 Cent right in the middle of his Get Rich or Die Tryin' run, alongside Styles P, makes this a gritty New York standout.

Score: 8/10

8. Bring The Noize (3:30)

Another chaotic Tuneheadz production. It’s loud and aggressive but starts to blend in with some of the other high-energy tracks.

Score: 6.5/10

9. Untouchable (feat. Syleena Johnson, Cross, Infa-Red, Sheek Louch, Drag-On) (6:05)

A massive posse cut. While it’s great to hear the Ruff Ryders camp assemble, the six-minute runtime drags the album's pacing down slightly.

Score: 6/10

10. Fuck Y'all (3:43)

Originally meant to be the lead single before being pushed back, this is classic, rebellious DMX venting his frustrations at the industry and his critics.

Score: 7.5/10

11. Ruff Radio (Skit) (0:43)

Faux-radio interludes were a staple of the era, but they add little replay value today.

Score: 3/10

12. We're Back (feat. Eve, Jadakiss) (4:25)

A fantastic Ruff Ryders reunion track. Eve and Jadakiss both deliver sharp verses over a bouncy, quintessential Swizz Beatz instrumental.

Score: 8/10

13. Ruff Radio 2 (Skit) (0:18)

Another unnecessary interruption.

Score: 2/10

14. Rob All Night (If I'm Gonna Rob) (3:27)

A dark, storytelling track detailing X's criminal past. It’s raw, unapologetic, and fits the gritty theme of the album perfectly.

Score: 7.5/10

15. We Go Hard (feat. Cam'ron) (3:36)

A great collaboration with Cam'ron. The contrast between X's gruff barking and Cam's laid-back, arrogant Dipset flow works surprisingly well.

Score: 7.5/10

16. We 'Bout To Blow (feat. Big Stan) (3:31)

A decent album cut, but by track 16, the aggressive formula begins to feel slightly repetitive without a massive hook to anchor it.

Score: 6/10

17. The Rain (3:27)

One of the best introspective tracks on the project. DMX uses the weather as a metaphor for his depression and struggles, offering a powerful moment of vulnerability.

Score: 8.5/10

18. Gotta Go (Skit) (1:07)

A narrative setup for the following track.

Score: 3/10

19. Don't Gotta Go Home (feat. Monica) (5:17)

An R&B crossover attempt. While Monica sounds great, the smooth R&B vibe feels incredibly out of place on an album that just spent 18 tracks barking and kicking down doors.

Score: 5/10

20. A'Yo Kato (feat. Magic, Val) (3:46)

A heartfelt dedication to his deceased friend Kato. It’s emotionally heavy and showcases DMX's loyalty and pain.

Score: 7.5/10

21. Thank You (feat. Patti LaBelle) (3:01)

A fascinating, gospel-infused track. Pairing DMX's gruff street poetry with Patti LaBelle's legendary vocals shouldn't work, but X's sheer conviction pulls it off.

Score: 7/10

22. The Prayer V (1:47)

The fifth installment of his legendary album prayers. It’s a beautiful, raw, and essential closing tradition for any classic DMX album.

Score: 8/10

23. On Top (Bonus Track) (feat. Big Stan) (3:35)

A standard bonus cut that offers some final aggressive bars but isn't strictly necessary for the album's core experience.

Score: 6/10

The Verdict

Grand Champ proves that even when DMX was running on the fumes of his initial legendary five-album run, his raw charisma and energy were unmatched in the industry. The highs on this album ("Where the Hood At?", "Shot Down," "The Rain") are spectacular. However, the project suffers from early-2000s CD bloat; trimming the skits and a few filler tracks would have turned a very good album into an undeniable masterpiece.