i really like the first one, i like those whelps of "yeah". i like incidental sounds like that. where it's a crew but there's one guy doing the main bit and he's got a bit of support. not so sure about when it starts to get a bit more hectic, all very emotional. actually it's alright. he's angry about somethin galright, i can't tell what. but i'm into this one. love how he brings it down to sens e of calm again. it's putting a good picture in my head. i caught "polluted uprooted". it's all about god and the devil, good timeless themes. very breathless and the last vocal performance where they join one another is very good. really like this one, i'm probably a little bit too old for it. it feels timeless but i'm gonna say it is late 90s or early 2000s? i also really like the very simple production and how it's there all the time, with not much else going on, cos the vocal performance is so strong and good. i prefer this to the goody mob i think, if you see what i mean, it's not quite the same thing, but i bracket it with that over anything else (i guess it's similar to the previous two a little as well, but also better than both of them).
DMX - interesting choice - i guess you know he's a touchstone for DB? i always knew he was there, but i never knew a lot about him beyond what might have played on mtv base. yeah this is good, i like his gravelly and very clear voice - you can tell what he's on about. it's a decent beat and pace. chorus i'm not so sure about. that's a bit weak. the song is best when it's dmx making his points. i could get into this on a few listens.
"my mother, my father, i love em" - like how he alters his tone a bit there. there's a plaintive element to dmxs flow which makes him a more colourful listen. that variane is good. he also sounds to me like a few of the wu people. who i've probably listened to the most recently.
i think this pair more than any other pair you've posted is what i like the best. they are still not quite right, but i like the aggro, the tight percussion, the pacing, the subject matter. i would put both of these on a mix tomorrow.