Grand Champ is the fifth studio album by American rapper DMX. It was released on September 16, 2003 by The Island Def Jam Music Group, Def Jam Recordings, and Ruff Ryders Entertainment. The album was produced by multiple producers, including Swizz Beatz, Dame Grease, Kanye West, and No I.D. It features guest appearances from 50 Cent, Cam'ron, Eve, Styles P, Monica, and Jadakiss, among others.

Grand Champ
Studio album by
ReleasedSeptember 16, 2003
GenreEast Coast hip hop
Length74:40
Label
Producer
DMX chronology
The Great Depression
(2001)
Grand Champ
(2003)
Year of the Dog… Again
(2006)
Singles from Grand Champ
  1. "Where the Hood At?"
    Released: August 5, 2003[1]
  2. "Get It on the Floor"
    Released: December 30, 2003[2]

Grand Champ was supported by two singles: "Where the Hood At?" and "Get It on the Floor". Despite receiving generally mixed reviews from music critics, the album was a commercial success. It debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 312,000 copies in its first week.[3]

Singles

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The album was supported by two singles. The first single, "Where the Hood At?" was released on August 5, 2003.[4] The single peaked at number 68 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 24 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts respectively.[5][6] The single also peaked at number 16 on the UK Singles Chart, becoming his second top 20 song on that chart.[7] The second single, "Get It on the Floor" was released on December 30, 2003.[8] The song was produced by and features a guest appearance by Swizz Beatz. The single failed to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 but managed to peak at number 57 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and number 34 on the UK Singles Chart, becoming his fifth UK top 40.[9][10]

Other songs

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On the international version of the album "X Gon' Give It to Ya" was added as a bonus track. The single was originally released on December 10, 2002.[11] It served as the theme song for the 2003 film "Cradle 2 the Grave" which DMX also starred in. The song peaked at number 60 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 23 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts respectively.[12][13] The song also peaked at number six on the UK Singles Chart, becoming his only UK top-ten hit.[14]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic58/100[15]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [16]
Blender     [15]
E! OnlineC+[15]
Entertainment WeeklyC−[17]
Playlouder     [18]
PopMatters          [15][19]
RapReviews7/10[20]
Rolling Stone     [21]
Vibe     [22]
USA Today    [23]

Grand Champ received generally mixed reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from professional publications, the album received an average score of 58, based on twelve reviews.[15] Jason Birchmeier of AllMusic praised DMX's effort stating that, "It's a well-crafted and thought-out album but feels like a sequel, and as such, it serves its purpose: to satisfy fans and move units." But Birchmeier also stated that it was "Not quite the big comeback DMX needed at this point in his quietly sagging rap career." In addition, he stated that, "Longtime fans may decide to drop off at about this point, if they hadn't already, while those content with the usual—or new to DMX—should find plenty to savor on Grand Champ." Birchmeier ultimately give the album a 3.5 star rating out of 5.[24]

Commercial performance

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Grand Champ debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 312,000 copies in its first week, according to Nielsen Soundscan.[3] This became DMX's fifth and final US number one debut on the chart.[3] In its second week, the album dropped to number seven on the chart, selling an additional 150,000 copies.[25] On November 7, 2003, the album was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipments and sales of over one million copies in the US.[26] As of October 2009, the album has sold 1,204,000 copies in the United States.[27] To date, it is DMX's final album to achieve a certification from the RIAA.

Track listing

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Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.[28]

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Dog Intro" (featuring Bashir Fadai)
Darold "Pop" Trotter3:32
2."My Life" (featuring Chinky)
  • Simmons
  • John Parker
  • Talia Burgess
Dart La3:09
3."Where the Hood At?"
Tuneheadz4:46
4."Dogs Out"Kanye West4:03
5."Get It on the Floor" (featuring Swizz Beatz)Swizz Beatz4:22
6."Come Prepared" (Skit) 
  • Joaquin "Waah" Dean
  • Jay "Icepick" Jackson
0:35
7."Shot Down" (featuring 50 Cent and Styles P)
DJ Salam Wreck3:42
8."Bring the Noize"
  • Simmons
  • Crum
  • Serrano
Tuneheadz3:30
9."Untouchable" (featuring Syleena Johnson, Cross, Infa-Red, Sheek and Drag-On)
6:05
10."Fuck Y'all"Ron Browz3:43
11."Ruff Radio" (Skit) 
  • Joaquin "Waah" Dean
  • Jay "Icepick" Jackson
0:43
12."We're Back" (featuring Eve and Jadakiss)
Tuneheadz4:25
13."Ruff Radio 2" (Skit) 
  • Joaquin "Waah" Dean
  • Jay "Icepick" Jackson
0:18
14."Rob All Night (If I'm Gonna Rob)"Rockwilder3:27
15."We Go Hard" (featuring Cam'ron)
No I.D.3:36
16."We 'Bout to Blow" (featuring Big Stan)
Dame Grease3:31
17."The Rain"
DJ Scratch3:27
18."Gotta Go" (Skit) 
  • Joaquin "Waah" Dean
  • Jay "Icepick" Jackson
1:07
19."Don't Gotta Go Home" (featuring Monica)
  • Antoine Macon
  • Ryan Bowser
  • Simmons
  • Antoine "Bam" Macon
  • Ryan Bowser
  • Mr. Devine[b]
  • Victor Flowers[b]
4:17
20."A'Yo Kato" (featuring Magic and Val)
  • Simmons
  • Dean
  • Floyd Massey
  • Valerie Rangel
Swizz Beatz3:46
21."Thank You" (featuring Patti LaBelle)
  • Simmons
  • Ron Holden
  • Niem Washington
  • DMX
  • Ron H
  • Nemo
  • Gerald Flowers[b]
  • Victor Flowers[b]
  • Reggie Flowers[b]
3:01
22."Prayer V"SimmonsDMX1:47
23."On Top" (featuring Big Stan)
  • Simmons
  • Jermaine Russ
  • Joyner
Mac G3:34
24."X Gon' Give It to Ya" (International Bonus Track)
  • Simmons
  • Shatek King
Shatek3:38

Notes

  • ^[a] signifies a co-producer.
  • ^[a] signifies an additional producer.

Sample credits[28]

Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[51] Platinum 100,000^
Germany (BVMI)[52] Gold 100,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[54] Gold 187,401[53]
United States (RIAA)[26] Platinum 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ "Where That Hood at [US 12"] - DMX | Release Credits". AllMusic.
  2. ^ "Get It on the Floor - DMX | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.
  3. ^ a b c "DMX Proves 'Grand Champ' On Album Chart". Billboard. September 24, 2003. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
  4. ^ "Where That Hood at [US 12"] - DMX | Release Credits". AllMusic.
  5. ^ "DMX Chart History - Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
  6. ^ "DMX Chart History - HRBHHS". Billboard. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
  7. ^ "UK Chart History - DMX". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
  8. ^ "Get It on the Floor - DMX | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.
  9. ^ "DMX Chart History - HRBHHS". Billboard. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
  10. ^ "UK Chart History - DMX". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
  11. ^ "X Gon' Give It to Ya - DMX | User Reviews | AllMusic". AllMusic.
  12. ^ "DMX Chart History - Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
  13. ^ "DMX Chart History - HRBHHS". Billboard. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
  14. ^ "UK Chart History - DMX". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
  15. ^ a b c d e "Critic Reviews for Grand Champ". Metacritic. Retrieved December 19, 2015.
  16. ^ Jason Birchmeier (September 16, 2003). "Grand Champ - DMX | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved December 19, 2015.
  17. ^ Fiore, Raymond (October 3, 2003). "Grand Champ Review". Entertainment Weekly. p. 73. Archived from the original on April 25, 2009. Retrieved December 31, 2012.
  18. ^ "PLAYLOUDER | review - Grand Champ". Archived from the original on September 20, 2003. Retrieved December 19, 2015.
  19. ^ Cibula, Matt (November 21, 2003). "DMX: Grand Champ". PopMatters. Retrieved December 19, 2015.
  20. ^ "DMX :: Grand Champ :: Def Jam". Rapreviews.com. September 16, 2003. Retrieved December 19, 2015.
  21. ^ "DMX: Grand Champ : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone". Rolling Stone. September 24, 2003. Archived from the original on December 1, 2008. Retrieved December 19, 2015.
  22. ^ Lemon, Damien (October 2003). "Revolutions: DMX – Grand Champ". Vibe. p. 181. Archived from the original on April 5, 2005. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
  23. ^ Jones, Steve (September 15, 2003). "Listen Up". USA Today. Archived from the original on October 25, 2012. Retrieved December 19, 2015.
  24. ^ Jason Birchmeier (September 16, 2003). "Grand Champ - DMX | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved December 19, 2015.
  25. ^ "Outkast Win Hotly Contested #1 Spot". MTV. October 1, 2003. Archived from the original on September 19, 2020. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
  26. ^ a b "American album certifications – DMX – GRAND CHAMP". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  27. ^ "XXL Scans: Def Jam's Entire Discography & Record Sales". October 18, 2009. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
  28. ^ a b Grand Champ (booklet). Ruff Ryders, Def Jam. 2003.
  29. ^ "Australiancharts.com – DMX – Grand Champ". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  30. ^ "Austriancharts.at – DMX – Grand Champ" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  31. ^ "Ultratop.be – DMX – Grand Champ" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  32. ^ "DMX Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
  33. ^ "R&B : Top 50". Jam!. November 30, 2003. Archived from the original on December 9, 2003. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  34. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – DMX – Grand Champ" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  35. ^ "Lescharts.com – DMX – Grand Champ". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  36. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – DMX – Grand Champ" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  37. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography DMX". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  38. ^ "Charts.nz – DMX – Grand Champ". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  39. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  40. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – DMX – Grand Champ". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  41. ^ "Swisscharts.com – DMX – Grand Champ". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  42. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  43. ^ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  44. ^ "DMX Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
  45. ^ "DMX Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
  46. ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2003". hitparade.ch. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  47. ^ "2003 UK Chart" (PDF). ChartsPlus. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  48. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2003". Billboard. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  49. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2003". Billboard. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  50. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2004". Billboard. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
  51. ^ "Canadian album certifications – DMX – GRAND CHAMP". Music Canada.
  52. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (DMX; 'Grand Champ')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  53. ^ George Garner (April 9, 2021). "Tributes pour in for DMX, legendary rapper dead aged 50". Music Week. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  54. ^ "British album certifications – DMX – THE GREAT DEPRESSION". British Phonographic Industry.
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