"Where the Hood At?" is a song by American rapper

DMX Earl Simmons (December 18, 1970 – April 9, 2021), known professionally as DMX, was an American rapper and actor. He began rapping in the early 1990s and released his debut album ''It's Dark and Hell Is Hot'' in 1998, to both critical acclaim ...

, released as the lead

single Single may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * Single (music), a song release Songs * "Single" (Natasha Bedingfield song), 2004 * "Single" (New Kids on the Block and Ne-Yo song), 2008 * "Single" (William Wei song), 2016 * "Single", by ...

from his 2003 studio album ''

Grand Champ ''Grand Champ'' is the fifth studio album by American rapper DMX. It was released on September 16, 2003 by Ruff Ryders Entertainment and Def Jam Recordings. The album was produced by multiple producers, including Swizz Beatz, Dame Grease, Kanye ...

''.

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

stated "The anthemic lead single, 'Where the Hood At,' is precisely modeled after previous DMX rallying calls like 'Ruff Ryder Anthem,' 'What's My Name?,' and 'Who We Be.'"

Release

Production

The song was recorded in a studio in

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

. DMX's close friend Kato was also there while DMX was recording it. When DMX first heard the beat, he immediately came up with the lyrics for what would later be the first line of the chorus for the song, which also became the title of the song.DMX Breaks Down His Most Iconic Tracks , GQ
/ref> The clean version does not have the third verse, unlike the explicit version. The producers for the song were the music creation team Tuneheadz. Recorded in 2003, it was one of the first singles to be available as a digital download via

Amazon.com Amazon.com, Inc. ( ) is an American multinational technology company focusing on e-commerce, cloud computing, online advertising, digital streaming, and artificial intelligence. It has been referred to as "one of the most influential economi ...

. The song samples "

I'll Play the Blues for You ''I'll Play the Blues for You'' is the seventh studio album by Albert King released in 1972. In 2017, the single version of the title track was inducted in to the Blues Hall of Fame. Track listing #"I'll Play the Blues for You, Pts. 1-2" (Jerr ...

" by

Albert King Albert Nelson (April 25, 1923 – December 21, 1992), known by his stage name Albert King, was an American guitarist and singer who is often regarded as one of the greatest and most influential blues guitarists of all time. He is perhaps b ...

. That song was originally sampled by

Big Daddy Kane Antonio Hardy (born September 10, 1968), better known by his stage name Big Daddy Kane, is an American rapper who began his career in 1986 as a member of the Juice Crew. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential and skilled MCs in hi ...

for the song "Young, Gifted and Black". DMX stated that he was "in love with that beat when Kane did it".

Music video

The music video is clean and is set in DMX's neighborhood in

Yonkers, New York Yonkers () is a city in Westchester County, New York, United States. Developed along the Hudson River, it is the third most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City and Buffalo. The population of Yonkers was 211,569 as enu ...

. There are appearances from rappers

Drag-On Melvin Smalls, known professionally as Drag-On, is an American rapper. He is best known for his time on Ruff Ryders, through whom he released his debut album, ''Opposite of H2O'' (2000). The album was successful, debuting at number five on the ...

Swizz Beatz Kasseem Daoud Dean (born September 13, 1978), known professionally as Swizz Beatz, is an American record producer, rapper, disc jockey (DJ) and songwriter. Born and raised in New York City, Dean embarked on his musical career as a DJ. At the ag ...

Fat Joe Joseph Antonio Cartagena (born August 19, 1970), better known by his stage name Fat Joe, is an American rapper from New York City. He began his music career as a member of hip hop group Diggin' in the Crates Crew (D.I.T.C.), then forged a sol ...

and

Busta Rhymes Trevor George Smith Jr. (born May 20, 1972), known professionally as Busta Rhymes, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer and actor. Chuck D of Public Enemy gave him the moniker Busta Rhymes, after NFL and CFL wide receiver ...

. In the second half of the video, a song entitled "A'Yo Kato", produced by Swizz Beatz, was added to pay tribute to his fallen friend.

Track listing

US version

#"Where the Hood At?" #"Where the Hood At?" (Instrumental) #"

Ruff Ryders' Anthem "Ruff Ryders' Anthem" is a song by American rapper DMX, released on May 5, 1998, as the third single from his debut studio album ''It's Dark and Hell Is Hot'' (1998). In 2008, the song was ranked at number 79 on ''VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of H ...

UK version

#"Where the Hood At?" #"Ruff Ryders' Anthem" #"

Who We Be "Who We Be" is a song by American hip hop recording artist DMX, released as the second single from his fourth album ''The Great Depression'' (2001). The song peaked at number 60 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. It was nominated for the Grammy Awar ...

" #"Where the Hood At?" (Video CD-ROM)

Charts

Certifications

References

{{DMX 2003 singles DMX (rapper) songs Def Jam Recordings singles Ruff Ryders Entertainment singles Hip hop songs Diss tracks Gangsta rap songs 2003 songs Songs written by DMX (rapper)