In 2003, ahead of the release of his fifth album, Grand Champ, DMX shared that he was going to retire from music (via MTV News). While the outlet noted he would "continue to act and oversee his Bloodline Records label, but neither will be his priority," X stated that he planned to focus on God and his family. "I'm going to go to church," he said. "... You know, read my Bible and just get more into the word."
However, DMX's retirement was not long-lived, and in 2005, he released his sixth album, Year of the Dog... Again. Many fans were understandably confused about his new music, but MTV News discovered that his return to the rap game was due to a conversation he had with fellow artist Mase: "I said, 'Dog! I'm fed up with this rap s**t. I know the Lord. I know my true calling is to preach the Word, where do I go from here?' He was like, 'As long as the Lord gives you the talent to do what you do, do it. He'll call you when he's ready.'"
Mase's advice resonated with DMX, who decided to return to music, saying, "What gives me the right to say, 'I don't wanna do this no more' and walk away?" Noting that he "can deal with fake s**t" in the music business, DMX added, "I'm gonna do this as long as I can, and when [God] is ready for me, he'll call me. It wasn't my place to retire."
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7r7XCpKCsr5mbwW%2BvzqZmbG9mZYZ6e9ahmK1lnaTAtXnPnqappJVisbC602aip6enYq6ju9StZJ2lqGQ%3D