Year of the Dog... Again
Year of the Dog... Again is the sixth studio album by American rapper DMX. It was released on August 1, 2006 by Ruff Ryders Entertainment, Sony Urban Music and Columbia Records. The album was mostly produced by Swizz Beatz, Scott Storch, with additional production by others. It features guest appearances from Busta Rhymes, Styles P, Amerie, and Jadakiss. "Year of the Dog... Again" was supported by two singles: "We in Here" and "Lord Give Me a Sign". The album received generally positive to mixed reviews from music critics but was a moderate commercial success. It  debuted at number two on the US "Billboard" 200 and number one on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts, selling 125,000 copies in its first week. It became DMX's first album to not debut at number one on the "Billboard" 200. Critical reception. At Metacritic, the album got a score of 60 out of 100 based on "mixed or average reviews". "XXL" gave it an "L" score equivalent to three stars out of five and stated, "Clearly, X's poetic touch remains intact. But "Year of the Dog" relies too heavily on nostalgia, ignoring how hip-hop  and DMX himself have changed over the years. Lyrically, the project sounds as if the Dog has been living in isolation for years, rarely shifting from his trademark style. Sadly, if X doesn't learn a few new tricks, things might never be the same…again." HipHopDX gave it a score of 2.5 out of 5 and said, "The album fairly consistent of what DMX has become - lost. Much like his outlandish antics and brushes with the law, X is all over the place on wax, battling incoherence and sane thinking." AllHipHop gave it a score of three-and-a -half out of five stars and said, "DMX is flawless as DMX. He has carved his own niche, perfecting his brand of unfiltered aggression. Legions of DMX loyalist will not be disappointed." About.com also gave it a score of three-and-a-half out of five stars and said, "Despite all the crises occurring in X's personal life, he still finds a way to preserve the breadth and depth of his powerful voice; his voice alone is capable of propelling the album. While the canine theme is hard to mistake, forgiveness, redemption and, ultimately, the presence of a supreme  being present themselves as a subtext in X's canine mind. It seems like the dog has found his way home, finally." Commercial performance. "Year of the Dog... Again" debuted at number two on the US "Billboard 200" chart, selling 126,000 copies in first week, debuting behind "NOW 22". This became DMX's sixth US top-ten album and his first album to not debut at number one. In its second week, the album dropped to number nine on the chart, selling an additional 47,000 copies. As of September 2012, the album has sold 346,000 copies in the United States . Track listing. Credits adapted from the album's liner notes. Sample credits