'Battle of the Dogs': DMX and Snoop Dogg set to face-off on Verzuz, fans start placing their bets
The next Verzuz battle has been announced and it's a big one: DMX versus Snoop Dogg. Two rappers that have been in the game for decades, having started out in the early '90s and each boasting a massive discography and award-winning, record-breaking catalogs. For most, this might seem like an even match-up but fans are already taking sides and picking their winners. Regardless of who you bat for, this is going to be an epic battle. So here's everything you need to know about the face-off.
When
The DMX versus Snoop Dogg Verzuz 'Battle of the Dogs' takes place on Wednesday, July 22.
The challengers
DMX first hit the scene in the early 1990s with his debut album 'It's Dark and Hell Is Hot' dropping to both critical acclaim and commercial success back in 1998, with his second album, 'Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood', dropping later that year. Both the albums debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. DMX's best-selling album, '... And Then There Was X' would drop the following year, featuring his hit single 'Party Up (Up in Here)' as well as fan-favorites 'What's My Name?' and 'What These Bitches Want'. The album would go on to be certified Platinum six times. From there on, DMX's run as one of the best hip-hop artistes would only continue with the rapper putting out several more hits and continuing to remain popular decades later as well as being recognized as one of the most influential figures in hip-hop.
Snoop Dogg was first discovered by Dr. Dre in the early '90s and made his debut featuring on Dre's solo debut, 'Deep Cover', in 1992. His own debut album, 'Doggystyle', dropped the following year debuting at number one on both the Billboard 200 and the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts. The album, which included the hit singles 'What's My Name?' and 'Gin & Juice', sold nearly a million copies in its first week of release and was certified quadruple platinum in 1994. Snoop would go on to set a Guinness World Record in 2018 for mixing the biggest gin and juice drink during an appearance at the BottleRock Napa Valley music festival and really proving the enduring quality of his music, because even decades later, 'Gin & Juice' remains one of the most beloved songs.
What to expect
Seeing these two artistes go up against each other, bringing their best 20 songs to the table, is going to be a treat no matter whose catalog you're more likely to vibe with. Nonetheless, fans have begun voting and placing their bets. One fan stated, "This might actually be decent. Dmx is still the only rapper to have 2 platinum albums in the same year," while another said, "Snoop and it’s not close." One fan quipped, "This really going to be DMX vs. technology." Mostly though, fans think Snoop might have the upper hand. One user shared, "Haha I get it though. I rock with X but in a battle, Snoop got so many hits he can choose from," while another said, "X is my 3rd favorite rapper but snoop is a gospel artist and a reggae artist in one alongside a rapper, this might be interesting."
One fan had a more detailed analysis to offer, stating, "Snoop has The Chronic and Doggystyle, which are both in the top 10 rap albums of all time, but I don't know whether that's gonna cut it for a whole verzuz. His catalog of music overall is pretty hit and miss, for every No Limit Topp Dogg there's a Reincarnated. DMX has probably an even more shaky discog, I think his only real classic is his first LP, but he has a sh*t ton of classic singles. Snoop does too, but he kinda falls off after like 2005. DMX has singles on top of singles, not a lot of deep cuts after And Then There Was X." Ultimately, it'll depend on who manages to one-up the other during the battle, so expect a night filled with some of the top hits from the last three decades.
Where to stream
The 'Battle of the Dogs' will stream live from via Verzuz.com and can also be watched via the Official Verzuz Instagram account and on Apple Music.