Get At Me Dog

"Get At Me Dog" was DMX' first solo hit, but he was well known in the East Coast rap scene thanks to features on LL Cool J's "4-3-2-1" and The Lox' "Money, Power & Respect." The song is a chronicle of his life, fighting for survival and "just robbin' to eat." It set the tone for what was to come from DMX: unapologetic, aggressive lyrics based on his real-life experiences.

DMX used a lot of dog imagery in his songs. His "dogs" are his friends and fans, but more literally, his actual dogs. He claimed to own about 20 pooches.

DMX, signed to Ruff Ryders Entertainment, released a single in 1992 called "Born Loser" that was distributed by Columbia Records and flopped. His debut album, It's Dark And Hell Is Hot, was distributed by Def Jam, which was a much better fit. With "Get At Me Dog" leading the way as the first single, the album debuted at #1 in America, as did his next four albums. It was a remarkable run that helped revive the fortunes of Def Jam, which had fallen on hard times.