Blog Entry 4

Earl Simmons also know as DMX, was born in Baltimore on December 18, 1970 and raised in Yonkers, NY as a child. Due to a troubled and abusive childhood, Simmons became very violent. He spent most of his childhood in a group home and survived off of the streets, which led him in and out of Juvenile Detention. He found his passion in Hip Hop starting out as a DJ and moved his way up into rapping. After Tupac and Biggie Smalls, DMX was the next hardcore rapper. Everything about DMX was hard, from his muscular appearance, to his mean face and to his barking, made him who he was. He had an obsession with dogs, which is why he was always barking in his songs. What made him so unique was that he could go from rapping about the streets, to rapping spiritually and asking God to keep him out of the streets. "Lord Give me a Sign" was released in 2006 and I chose to write about this song because I know a lot of us can relate to it. There are situations mentioned in this song that we deal with daily and the way he asked God for help was very well put together ( Bullamore, Derek. (2012). “DMX (Rapper).” Wikipedia. Retrieved March 2012, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DMX_(rapper).

"Lord Give me a Sign" is basically DMX's desire to walk down the right path in life. I believe guidance is the theme of the song because throughout the entire lyric of this song, DMX is asking God for help. In the first verse, he's asking God to give him a sign as to what to do because the walk has been hard and he doesn't know what to do. As he's talking to God he's also letting him know that he feels alone and he's hurting. DMX also mentioned that’s he is soaking up trouble like rain in the dirt and when he said that, it made me think about his childhood and how he was always getting in trouble. Maybe DMX is begging God for guidance because he doesn't want to go back to how he was in his childhood years; he wants to be a changed man. Aside from guidance I think trust was also big in this song. He kept saying that he won't let the Devil take him back to the things that he used to do and as long as the Lord is in his life, then he won't have any fear. In verse two he talks about how through the trials and tribulations, Jesus is still here with him. This song is mainly about asking for guidance and trusting that the Lord will guide you.

"Lord Give me a Sign" is about DMX's desire to change. He asks God for guidance because its been quite a struggle for him and he doesn't know which way to go. "Lord give me a sign! I really need to talk to you Lord, since the last time we talked, the walk has been hard"(Verse 1, lines 1-3). He's also letting God know that he has been hurting inside and doesn't want to go back the what he use to do as a child. "And I'm still going through it, pain and the hurt, soaking up trouble like rain in the dirt"(Verse 1, lines 7-9). His disparaging childhood caused him to become very violent and hateful. Being passed on from home to home built up a lot of anger and caused him to conduct in violent activities, later on he was sent to juvenile prison. DMX isn't trying to go back to his child hood days, he wants to change and somehow the Devil is trying to tempt him, but he trying hard to not let that happen. "Devil I rebuke you for what I go through and trying to make me do what I used to"(Verse 1, lines 14-15). DMX is informing God that he want's to build a closer relationship with him, because it's obvious that he believes the Lord would protect him. "Show me what I got to do to bring me closer to you"(Hook, lines 7-8). DMX is expressing to God that he really needs him in his life. "Let me take your hand, guide me. I'll walk slow but stay right beside me"(Verse 2, lines 17-18).

Earl Simmons, "Lord Give me a Sign" is a spiritual Hip Hop song expressing his feelings to God. He's talking about his desire to change, he's acknowledging the fact that he did mess up when he was younger, but he wants to walk down the right path this time. DMX is also trusting that the Lord will stay by his side and that "No weapon formed against him shall prosper, and every tongue that rises against him in judgement thou shalt condemn. For this is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their righteousness is of him, saith the Lord" (Intro, lines 2-5).