Releasing a posthumous album less than two months after a musician's death can be a daunting prospect. But on Exodus, Swizz Beatz is at the controls, and that changes everything. The producer emerged at the same time as DMX, and worked with him on most of his big hits. He collaborated with the rapper until the latter’s death on 9 April 2021. This new release was being put together well before that tragic day. So it's not about beats or verses being dredged out of the archives, but an album project which was in full swing when it was interrupted by fate. Hence the speedy release and the album's respect for the sound and spirit of DMX, who wanted these tracks to be heard. This release grants his wish, and also complements his works with a plethora of guest appearances including some of the biggest names in rap history. Jay-Z and Nas, whom DMX battled for the title of King of New York in the late 1990s, find themselves on Bath Salts with its modern-sounding gong bass drums; Snoop Dogg gets nostalgic on the jazzy Take Control; Lil Wayne lets loose over a beat that seems tailor-made for him on a new version of Dogs Out... Even the three newcomers of Griselda gather for the excellent Hood Blues. It all adds up to a beautiful tribute to a roaring rapper who left us too soon. © Brice Miclet/Qobuz