We Can Always Get Up

 

 

So I just properly re-listened to Slippin’ by DMX, and wow, I think I finally understand why I really, really, really like the song. First of all, it's for me prototype Ka, and I'll explain how. I think that my love for Ka has been well documented at this point. And after listening to Slippin’, I realise that what DMX did was tell the story of his life in three verses (how he started, the consequences and how he was able to seemingly overcome).
So, I think what connects the two of them (on this song) is that they both explain why they did what they did, and the consequences that arose from it. How they both came from the bottom and when the opportunity to be better presented itself, how they had the strength to take it and improve themselves.

However, Slippin' showed DMX as a man who was a product of his upbringing (or lack thereof). How opportunities, when they come can seem like problems to the mistreated individual, how one has to be able to look outside their environment/circumstances to truly succeed. If you get the right opportunity, the right break now, would you take it? Would you even recognize it as a path to a better life; a good thing? Is all this an excuse for failure? I honestly don't know. I had a very stable upbringing with loving parents so I genuinely cannot relate. And I am not a black American so I don't have that experience. DMX does not provide answers to this, but just tells his own story and asks that you listen before you judge.

However, one thing that sticks with me on the song is the fact that he doesn't make excuses. It's all very honest, very blunt, and very frank. Could things have been better? Could things have been different? I genuinely don't know. He's not disputing, he's not denying. He's actually not making excuses on the song and he is brutally honest. It's just stating the facts such as they are, and that is the actual emotional core of the song. He did bad, now he wants to do good, be better for his people.

I must also say that Slippin’ as a piece of writing is actually fucking magnificent. DMX is not (and I have listened to his first three albums again specifically to write this article) an extremely technical writer. He was called blunt force and aggressive. I don't think he's blunt force. Rather, I think he writes in an accessible manner, probably why he had so many fans. He wasn't trying to give you unnecessarily verbose or overtly technical rhymes, he wrote straight up what he was feeling. As such, you felt it too. So DMX was, and I mean this in the best way possible, a man who rapped plainly. Probably why he was so beloved and accessible to everybody.

Now, Slippin’, as I was saying earlier, is actually a spectacular piece of writing, and just a gorgeous song. It's simple and straight to the point. In every word, every line you hear his pain, his emotions. How he felt, the rawness of his soul is laid bare on the song. The gorgeous beat, built over a beautiful sample of Moonstreams by Grover Washington Jr. is something you have to hear to fully appreciate. By the way, in case it’s not obvious, this is my best DMX song. This is also the song that actually made me want to listen to his first three albums which are all fucking spectacular. He was on fucking fire man.

On the song, he breaks down his life. The first verse is early childhood, the second verse is I'm assuming teams to maybe early 20s and in the third verse, he has the record contract. And when he mentions his wife and child(ren) at the end, it was especially touching that he was able to receive and give love despite all the shit that he's been through. He meets with Ruff Ryders and his life turns around. But, again on the song, he had to be ready to accept the change, which I think is the most important thing in all honesty. People can be willing to help you, but are you willing to let yourself be helped? He was blessed, and as at that time, I don't think he took it for granted. 

Slippin’ is an inspirational rap song, because it says something in the way only DMX can. It says we can start from nothing, we can have fucked up childhoods. We can be introduced to drugs at a young age. But, we can pull ourselves up. We can be better. Our past should not and does not define us. DMX made me understand that, and that I believe is his real legacy.