ATF
DMX · It's Dark and Hell Is Hot [1998]
[DMX]
Got me on the run
Uh, uh
BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, open the door, ATF
To late to send my girl downstairs to say he left
To the basement, go through the replacement door
Come up in my neighbor's yard, wit' a taste for war
You know I laced the four, wit' the hallows
Crack the safe, got the bottles
[Girl]
Whatchu want me to do?
[DMX]
Beep Callows
Two houses over, by the tall black fence
I keep the hooptie parked for situations like this
There go Priest, yo, deal in, you drive
[Guy]
What the fuck you doin' nigga?
[DMX]
Tryin' to stay alive
Cops on every corner, I lay back and try to cruise by
Who the fuck could'a snitched? Must'a been a new guy
(Siren)Damn, in back on our ass
Put your foot back on the gas, step on it fast
Tryin' to pull up on the side, but I'm packin' to blast
Tryin' to take the niggaz heads off, fuck crackin' the glass
(Gunshots)Hey, look out, (bark), damn
Came so close, you almost hit that bitch
[Guy]
Like you said nigga, almost
[DMX]
Shit, the cops hit her, and I know they ain't gon' leave her
Go up here, make this left, pull it over, take a breather
(breathing sounds)
Drop it on the floor, BOOM
Got it through the door, peddle to the floor, an office line
Death is in the air, and I don't know if it's mine
But I know if it's time, it'll be what it is
And all I can think of is what about my kids
Shit, they on the corner, hit the sidewalk, quick!
1, 2, 3, 4, 5 more clips
Hit the fire hydrant, get low for the shootout
Run through the fire, pull a gun from my boot out
Caught me in the shoulder, the neck, the ear
I'm goin' out fast and the last thing I hear is
BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, open the door, ATF
Got me on the run
Uh, uh
BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, open the door, ATF
To late to send my girl downstairs to say he left
To the basement, go through the replacement door
Come up in my neighbor's yard, wit' a taste for war
You know I laced the four, wit' the hallows
Crack the safe, got the bottles
[Girl]
Whatchu want me to do?
[DMX]
Beep Callows
Two houses over, by the tall black fence
I keep the hooptie parked for situations like this
There go Priest, yo, deal in, you drive
[Guy]
What the fuck you doin' nigga?
[DMX]
Tryin' to stay alive
Cops on every corner, I lay back and try to cruise by
Who the fuck could'a snitched? Must'a been a new guy
(Siren)Damn, in back on our ass
Put your foot back on the gas, step on it fast
Tryin' to pull up on the side, but I'm packin' to blast
Tryin' to take the niggaz heads off, fuck crackin' the glass
(Gunshots)Hey, look out, (bark), damn
Came so close, you almost hit that bitch
[Guy]
Like you said nigga, almost
[DMX]
Shit, the cops hit her, and I know they ain't gon' leave her
Go up here, make this left, pull it over, take a breather
(breathing sounds)
Drop it on the floor, BOOM
Got it through the door, peddle to the floor, an office line
Death is in the air, and I don't know if it's mine
But I know if it's time, it'll be what it is
And all I can think of is what about my kids
Shit, they on the corner, hit the sidewalk, quick!
1, 2, 3, 4, 5 more clips
Hit the fire hydrant, get low for the shootout
Run through the fire, pull a gun from my boot out
Caught me in the shoulder, the neck, the ear
I'm goin' out fast and the last thing I hear is
BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, open the door, ATF
ATF
ATF stands as a defining track from DMX's explosive debut album, It's Dark and Hell Is Hot. Released in 1998, the song captures the raw, aggressive energy that propelled the rapper to immediate stardom. The recording showcases his signature guttural delivery and intense vocal range, blending hard-hitting hip-hop beats with a gritty, street-level atmosphere. As part of a landmark project that revitalized East Coast rap, the track highlights DMX's ability to convey deep emotion and unfiltered power. It remains a testament to his unique style and the enduring impact of his early discography on the genre.