The Definition of X: The Pick of the Litter

The Definition of X: The Pick of the Litter is the first greatest hits album by American rapper DMX. It was released on June 12, 2007, by Def Jam Recordings. Production was handled by Swizz Beatz, Dame Grease, P. Killer Trackz, Black Key, DJ Shok, DJ Scratch, Irv Gotti, Nokio, Self, Shatek King and Tuneheadz. It features guest appearances from The Lox, Drag-On, Jay-Z, Sisqó and Swizz Beatz.

The Definition of X: The Pick of the Litter
Greatest hits album by
ReleasedJune 12, 2007 (2007-06-12)
Recorded1997–2003
Studio
GenreHardcore hip hop
Length79:08
Label
Producer
DMX chronology
Year of the Dog… Again
(2006)
The Definition of X: The Pick of the Litter
(2007)
Undisputed
(2012)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
StylusB+[2]

In the United States, the album debuted at number 26 on the Billboard 200, number 7 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and number 3 on the Top Rap Albums, selling about 35,000 copies in its first week.[3] It received a Silver certification by British Phonographic Industry on April 3, 2020, for selling 60,000 units in the UK.

Although the album has both an explicit version and an edited version, on the explicit version on the track "Where the Hood At" some lines are still edited. The track "Slippin" is also the edited version. Also "Prayer III" is actually "Prayer II" from Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood.

Track listing

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No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Prayer III"Earl Simmons 2:04
2."Ruff Ryders' Anthem"Swizz Beatz3:32
3."Get at Me Dog" (featuring Sheek Louch)
3:05
4."Stop Being Greedy"
  • P. Killer Trackz
  • Dame Grease (add.)
3:36
5."How's It Goin' Down"
  • Simmons
  • Fields
P. Killer Trackz4:04
6."What These Bitches Want" (featuring Sisqó)Nokio4:13
7."Blackout" (featuring Jay-Z and The Lox)Swizz Beatz4:55
8."What's My Name?"
3:52
9."Where the Hood At?"
Tuneheadz4:46
10."Party Up (Up in Here)"
  • Simmons
  • Dean
Swizz Beatz4:32
11."X Gon' Give It to Ya"
  • Simmons
  • Shatek King
  • Dean
Shatek3:37
12."It's All Good"
Swizz Beatz4:18
13."Who We Be"
  • Simmons
  • Michael Davis
  • Black Key
  • Melvin "Hip" Armstead (co.)
4:48
14."The Rain"
DJ Scratch3:27
15."Here We Go Again"
  • Simmons
  • Michael Gomez
DJ Shok3:53
16."No Love 4 Me" (featuring Drag-On and Swizz Beatz)
Swizz Beatz4:00
17."We Right Here"
  • Simmons
  • M. Davis
Black Key4:28
18."One More Road to Cross"
  • Simmons
  • Dean
Swizz Beatz4:20
19."Slippin'"DJ Shok5:06
20."Prayer" (Skit)SimmonsDame Grease2:32
Total length:1:19:08
Sample credits
  • Track 3 contains samples from "Everything Good to You" written by Sam Taylor and performed by B. T. Express
  • Track 4 contains samples from "My Hero Is a Gun" written by Michael Masser and performed by The Temptations
  • Track 9 contains samples from "Young Gifted & Black" written and performed by Antonio "Big Daddy Kane" Hardy
  • Track 12 contains samples from "Heartbeat" written and performed by Taana Gardner
  • Track 14 contains samples from "Will She Meet the Train in the Rain" written by Leonard Perry, Katie Davis and Mallory Cowart, and performed by Greg Perry
  • Track 19 contains samples from "Moonstream" written and performed by Grover Washington Jr.
Notes

Personnel

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  • Earl "DMX" Simmons – performer
  • Sean "Sheek Louch" Jacobs – performer (tracks: 3, 7)
  • Lovey Ford – backing vocals (track 5)
  • Schamika Grant – backing vocals (track 5)
  • Mark "Sisqó" Andrews – performer (track 6)
  • Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter – performer (track 7)
  • David "Styles P" Styles – performer (track 7)
  • Jason "Jadakiss" Phillips – performer (track 7)
  • Dustin Adams – additional vocals (track 13)
  • Melvin "Drag-On" Smalls – performer (track 16)
  • Kaseem "Swizz Beatz" Dean – performer (track 16), producer (tracks: 2, 7, 10, 12, 16, 18)
  • Tamyra Gray – additional vocals (track 19)
  • Cliff Branch – keyboards (track 5)
  • Kenya Miller – programming (track 6)
  • Damon "Dame Grease" Blackman – producer (tracks: 3, 20), additional producer (track 4)
  • Anthony "P. Killer Trackz" Fields – producer (tracks: 4, 5), additional producer (track 3)
  • Tamir "Nokio" Ruffin – producer (track 6)
  • Edward "Self" Hinson – producer (track 8)
  • Irving "Irv Gotti" Lorenzo – producer (track 8)
  • Eriberio Serrano – producer (track 9)
  • Shatek King – producer (track 11)
  • Michael "Black Key" Davis – producer (tracks: 13, 17)
  • George "DJ Scratch" Spivey – producer (track 14)
  • Michael "DJ Shok" Gomez – producer (tracks: 15, 19)
  • Melvin "Hip" Armstead – co-producer (track 13)
  • Justice Johnson – recording (track 2)
  • Richard Keller – mixing (tracks: 2, 5, 9-12, 15-20), recording (tracks: 7, 12, 16, 19)
  • D'Anthony Johnson – recording (tracks: 3, 4), mixing (track 3)
  • Ken "Duro" Ifill – mixing (tracks: 4, 7, 8)
  • "Prince" Charles Alexander – recording (track 5)
  • Tony Smalios – mixing (track 6)
  • Adam Gazzola – recording (tracks: 7, 12, 16, 19), mixing (track 19)
  • Dragan Čačinović – recording & mixing (tracks: 9, 14)
  • Chris Theis – recording (tracks: 10, 11, 15, 18)
  • Jaime Weddle – recording (tracks: 13, 17)
  • Otto D'Agnolo – recording (tracks: 13, 17)
  • Brian Stanley – mixing (track 13)
  • Tony Dawsey – mastering
  • Dawud West – art direction, design
  • Jonathan Mannion – photography
  • Mark Mann – photography
  • Tara Podolsky – A&R
  • Leesa D. Brunson – A&R
  • Antoinette Trotman – management
  • Ian Allen – management
  • Nicole Wyskoarko – management
  • Rob Caiaffa – marketing
  • Andy Proctor – package production manager

Charts

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Chart performance for The Definition Of X: Pick Of The Litter
Chart (2007) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[4] 26
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[5] 7
US Top Rap Albums (Billboard)[6] 3

Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[7] Silver 60,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ Kellman, Andy. "The Definition of X: The Pick of the Litter - DMX | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  2. ^ Inskeep, Thomas (July 25, 2007). "DMX - The Definition of X: Pick of the Litter - Review - Stylus Magazine". Stylus Magazine. Archived from the original on April 13, 2021. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  3. ^ Hasty, Katie (June 20, 2007). "Toby Keith's 'Big Dog' Heads Straight To No. 1". Billboard. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  4. ^ "DMX Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  5. ^ "DMX Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  6. ^ "DMX Chart History (Top Rap Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  7. ^ "British album certifications – Dmx – The Definition of X - Pick Of The Litter". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
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