"He's Somebody That Could Have Rapped W/ Pac Or Biggie. He's A Legend"

With DMX finally busting back onto the music scene after frequent stints behind bars, SOHH recently reached out to his close friend/producer Cavie to get a take on the platinum-selling rapper's state of mind.

The rapper's "Come Back In One Piece" producer said he most notices X's hunger and desire to take the rap game by storm once again in his demeanor.

"X is a great guy, man, and me being a part of his second coming is phenomenal," Cavie told SOHH. "He's a talented, gifted superstar that we're blessed to see right now. I consider him a friend and a peer, along with a co-worker. It's great. He's somebody that could have rapped with Pac or Biggie, man, he's a legend. I'm happy to see him rising back and getting his strength back, with all of the fans that missed him and love him. Looking at his mental state, he's very strong. He's not the guy that everyone paints the picture of him to be. ... When I pull up a track and he hears it, he goes in. He told me I'm his favorite producer as of now. DMX told me I'm his favorite producer." (SOHH)

Last week, newly signed Bad Boy Records rapper Los gave SOHH the scoop on linking with X for their "Make You Proud" collaboration.

"DMX deals with After Platinum [Records]. They had a relationship with him so I talked to them about getting X on something. Initially, I just wanted DMX to do a prayer and he ended up hearing this record that he fell in love with called "Make You Proud" and that's how we kicked that off. He came to the studio and just put it down. He was in Phoenix and I was somewhere else, but I got to hear it and I was just like, "Man this is crazy." His first album, It's Dark and Hell is Hot was crazy and so was the Flesh of My Flesh one. I can't pick a favorite X album. To me, he was on the same type of thing Biggie was on: Super original and everything he did just hit. It never missed because it was organic and it was real. (SOHH Singled Out)

X is currently gearing up for an upcoming album set to drop sometime this year.

Although DMX's first full-length in six years, Undisputed, is slated to come out on March 27 via United Music & Media Group, the rapper says that fans shouldn't expect to see a new album hitting shelves on that date. "I don't see it being March 27," he says. "The fact that [the label] chose to tell me that makes me reconsider whether or not I made the right decision to f*ck with them. It's only one album, though. It'll be what it is. But I think [it will come out] second quarter, definitely." (Billboard)

Last week, the former Ruff Ryders leader spoke on not inking a deal with rap star Rick Ross' Maybach Music Group.

"What's MMG," X asked before being told it stands for Maybach Music Group. "Nah, see what happened, I got a letter when I was in prison like, 'Yo, yo, you know, we'll send a limo for you and da-da-da da-da,' I appreciated the offer and all of that but I really couldn't see it happening like that. You know what I'm saying? ... [Signing with MMG?] I said I wouldn't sign with 'that' label. I don't have a problem with the name or the label, how many letters are on there, just get me what I need, man. Proper promotion, that's it. That's it, and creative control, that's all I need." ("The Breakfast Club")