DMX’s love for dogs has long been evident. A hound solely graces the cover of his album Grand Champ, and if the title Year of the Dog doesn’t convince you, he’s posted on the front of the album with a canine. From appearances in his photos, album covers and visuals, his dogs have been alongside the Yonkers emcee throughout his music career, even learning a thing or two about ad-libs.
During a recent episode of “Drink Champs,” battle rapper Murda Mook sat down with N.O.R.E. and DJ EFN and revealed that X once trained his dog to ad-lib in a freestyle.
According to Mook, the “Where the Hood At?” hitmaker was participating in a rap battle in Harlem when he tapped his dog for some assistance. “He had his dog. So, he battling on the corner and all the niggas around him,” he said. “He battled Den on the block on 121st, right, Seventh Avenue.” During the showdown, Mook recalled, when X made mention of his hound, the canine growled on cue, and the lyricist picked up and continued on with his freestyle.
Mook’s fond memory of DMX isn’t the first time the “Slippin’” emcee was brought up on “Drink Champs.” In a previous episode, Hitmaka —who was once signed to X’s label —shared a story about the time the New Yorker stole one of his groupies and stripped him of the opportunity to lose his virginity.
Per the producer, he’d met a young lady after a night out at a Toronto nightclub and was headed back to his hotel room when the Ruff Ryders rapper interrupted.
He recalled, “I get off the elevator or whatever, I got the girl with me. I’m talking about I’m literally putting the key inside the hotel door, and X’s room opens…The nigga, he opens the door soon as I’m walking in ma, he’s like ‘Ay, ma, uhh.. I think you left your purse in my room.’ Mind you, we met these bitches at the club, you ain’t never been to his hotel, none of that shit. The bitch goes in DMX’s room, and he took my first piece of pussy.”
Look below to hear Murda Mook talk about DMX and his dog/hype man.