Thug Life Army

Well, as if the story of rap artist DMX needs another funny headline we got one for you. DMX coming out of retirement or not retiring to release another album. It depends on how you want to look at it. So now you can add him to the list of hip hop retirees that never retired.

That's not the funny part, the funny part is that it's under the advise of Mase. X's last album Grand Champ was allegedly going to be his last so he could retire just like Mase did six years ago to pick up the Bible and start preaching.

As of late if DMX was in the news, well... we all know why. Now that to me sounds like the guy that needs the advice of a preacher. But, Mase isn''t the one I had in mind. Especially not when it comes to career advice in rap/hip-hop.

DMX said, "I talked to Mase. I said, ''Dog! I''m fed up with this rap sh--. I know the Lord. I know my true calling is to preach the Word, where do I go from here?'' He was like, ''As long as the Lord gives you the talent to do what you do, do it. He''ll call you when he's ready. He''ll call you when he's ready.'' "

Well if that's not the blind leading the blind I don''t know what is. DMX fed up with this rap sh--? Look at the track record, how can he be fed up? Is he fed up with the rap or the image he takes upon himself as a rap artist? If your true calling is to preach the word of the Lord, then do you. But, if that's the case than a little house cleaning needs to be done if you know what I mean.

For Mase to give the advice of running with your talent is pretty funny itself. God called him when he was ready and when the money ran out he came back real quick. Drop an album and get some dough. When he came back he was all on the rap game needs me and the people want me. So what was his calling? If it was Welcome Back I think he got some mixed messages from the man above.

DMX's debut single was "Get at Me Dog", an instant hit. A number of hit singles kept DMX a presence on both urban and pop radio, including "Ruff Ryders Anthem", "Money, Cash, Hoes"(featuring Jay-Z)", "Slippin''" and "What's My Name". All tracks that you can pretty much consider classics that are still bumped all over the place today.

In 2003, DMX became the only artist in the history of the Billboard 200 to reach No. 1 with his first five albums with Grand Champ. His first album It's Dark and Hell Is Hot and the follow-up also released in 1998 Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood entered the charts in at #1. Also hitting the same spot on the charts in 1999 ...And Then There Was X and in 2001with The Great Depression.

Now don''t get it twisted, there is no way can you compare the career of the two artists. In my opinion Mase is no where near the league that X is in.

I am looking forward to what DMX has to offer us with this new album Here We Go Again. I''m a big fan of X's music, just not all of his actions. Hopefully he can keep his name clear long enough to see this album do big things and return to being one of the top Dogs in the industry.