In such a time of confusion, it's eerie that DMX would dub his latest vehicle, "The Great Depression." After all, we are still recovering from the greatest tragedy our generation will hopefully have to endure. While X continues to cater his music to the misguided soul, he does reinvent himself to some extent on "The Great Depression." The end result is a more self-contained X, which minus two Swizz Beatz contributions finds Darkman virtually cutting all ties to his Ruff Ryder Click, and cozying up to a slew of un-established producers who add a new wrinkle to his usually resolute sound. Though the recording move from NY, to Arizona may have initially raised some eyebrows (Anyone remember Public Enemy's "By The Time I Get To Arizona"?). The very same desert sanctuary X sought recording asylum in contains a duality that plays into his strengths, as the desert can be as tranquil as the Dalai Lama, and as savage as a rapid pit bull. X taps into both of those facets with equal ferocity on "The Great Depression"---with varying results. While X attacks street-anthems such as "We Right Here", and the rugged "Who We Be" (tadanh, tadanh, tadanh) like a powder keg ready to detonate. These gully bangers are levied by X's newfound reliance in God; exemplified by the yearning "A Minute For Your Son", and the touching ode to his Grandmother "I Miss You" f/Faith Evans. Fortunately these hard knock life accounts play out better then the misogynistic set-up track "Shorty Was The Bomb", and the bland soul sample ("Whatcha Gonna Do" With My Lovin') that X and Dame Grease lift for the tepid "When I'm Nothing" f/Stephanie Mills. ~ Matt Conaway