Two legends, finally together
2Pac and DMX never recorded together in life. Different coasts. Different eras. Different sounds. But they shared something deep: a raw, unfiltered honesty that bled through every line they wrote. When DMX passed in April 2021, the hip-hop community lost the other half of a conversation that had never officially happened.
This remix is an attempt to give them that conversation. Not by faking a feature, but by letting them speak through a single deep house architecture. Ruff Ryders' Anthem was already an anthem for the streets. This version puts 2Pac's voice in the same room — and the room breathes differently because of it.
Why DMX
DMX's voice is unmistakable. The growl. The pain. The faith that ran underneath even his hardest tracks. When I started building this remix, I knew the bassline had to match the weight of his presence — not float above it, not get out of its way. Sit with it.
The deep house architecture here is darker than usual. Less night drive, more late-night chapel. There's a moment around the drop where the synths thin out almost completely and you can hear DMX breathing between bars. I kept that. That breath is the track.
"Ride or die isn't just a phrase. It's a philosophy you can hear in the bass."
The production
Built around a slow, weighty deep house groove — heavier than my usual 2Pac remixes. The original Ruff Ryders' Anthem hit hard because of its drum patterns and DMX's delivery. To translate that into deep house, I had to find a way to keep the impact without the chop. Long sustained pads, deep sub-bass, sparse percussion. Let the vocals carry the weight.
If you're listening on headphones, the bass sits a little lower in the mix than my other tracks. That's intentional — this one rewards subwoofers and patience.
Best listened to:
- Loud, with subwoofers — the low end is the whole point
- At night, alone — this isn't a social track
- As a tribute to DMX — he's been missed
- Followed by Hellrazor or I Got The Click for the full energy arc
Part of the Murat Koff × 2Pac series
This track joins my growing Murat Koff × 2Pac series — each remix a different angle on a legacy that refuses to fade. This is the first one with another legend joining the room. It won't be the last. New drops every Tuesday and Thursday at 14:00 GMT.
