DMX will release his fourth album, The Great Depression, on September 25th. The album is the his first release since 1999's And Then There Was X, a rather lengthy layoff for the rapper, who released three albums -- It's Dark and Hell Is Hot, Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood and And Then There Was X -- between 1998 and 1999.

Part of the delay may stem from DMX's burgeoning career as an actor. Last year he appeared in the action film Romeo Must Die and earlier this year he co-headlined Exit Wounds with Steven Seagal. DMX also contributed the single "No Sunshine" to the film's soundtrack. The rapper's performance helped land him a multi-picture deal with Warner Brothers that will include an update of "M," a Thirties German thriller, produced by Joel Silver, with whom DMX worked on both Romeo and Exit Wounds.

ANDREW DANSBY
(August 14, 2001)