Five Finger Death Punch With Surprise DMX Collab Single “This Is The Way”

Five Finger Death Fist released the digital deluxe edition of their 2022 album AfterLife on Friday (April), which features four new bonus tracks. Among these fresh ones is an unexpected collaboration with the late rapper Ruff Ryders DMX.

The song, “This Is the Way,” is accompanied by a video directed by longtime X collaborator Hype Williams, which combines black-and-white performance footage of FFDP with photographs, cartoon images, and commemorative DMX murals. “You gonna hear it through the grapevine (what's that?)/ Wait for me to get mine/ The name of the game is get in where you fit in (what?)/ Dog, I fit in at the beginning,” DMX growls on the first verse with his characteristic gruff style.

“Music is meant to be universal and without boundaries, and it starts at the top with us, the artists,” FFDP guitarist Zoltan Bathory said in a statement. “We've always embraced mixing genres, whether it's the remake of LL Cool J's 'Mama Said Knock You Out' with guest Tech N9ne, or our collaboration with blues warrior Kenny Wayne Shepherd, the star of country Brantley Gilbert and Brian. May, the legendary guitarist of Queen, in the song “Blue on Black”.

The release didn't say when DMX's vocals were recorded, but Bathory added that the idea of ​​a collaboration with the “X Gon Give It To Ya” MC had been discussed for years and was a long and difficult road. this particular item on our wish list to come true. He was a lyrical warrior, a true original who spoke his mind without corruption.” The guitarist said the group always considered DMX the “metalhead of hip-hop” because of the rapper's “aggressive, raw and untamed” style.

“He snorted and growled, aiming to rattle a few cages – an attitude we share, as Five Finger Death Punch have always been drawn to the fearless and the real,” he said. “It makes all the sense in the world, but today this is more than just a song. it's a salute to a legend, a way to honor DMX's memory.” DMX died in April 2021 at the age of 50 after suffering a heart attack caused by a drug overdose.

The digital deluxe edition also includes three audio versions of the album tracks “The End”, “Judgement Day” and “Thanks For Asking”. FFDP will tour Europe this summer on a headlining tour with Ice Nine Kills before joining Metallica as the rock icons' European stage headliner.

Check out the “This Is the Way” video below.