The song was recorded in a studio in Chicago. DMX's close friend Kato was also there while DMX was recording it. When DMX first heard the beat, he immediately came up with the lyrics for what would later be the first line of the chorus for the song, which also became the title of the song.
The clean version does not have the third verse, unlike the explicit version. The producers for the song were the music creation team Tuneheadz. Recorded in 2003, it was one of the first singles to be available as a digital download via Amazon.com.
The song samples "I'll Play the Blues for You" by Albert King. That song was originally sampled by Big Daddy Kane for the song "Young, Gifted and Black". DMX stated that he was "in love with that beat when Kane did it".
The music video is clean and is set in DMX's neighborhood in Yonkers, New York. There are appearances from rappers Drag-On, Swizz Beatz, Fat Joe and Busta Rhymes. In the second half of the video, a song entitled "A'Yo Kato", produced by Swizz Beatz, was added to pay tribute to his fallen friend.
It peaked at #68 U.S. Billboard Hot 100 on September 27, 2003.
Where The Hood At
DMX Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yo yo, the dog is here
Yo yo, the dog is here
Yo yo
Where the East Coast at? (Come on)
Where the West Coast at? (Come on)
Where the Midwest at? (Come on)
Where the East Coast at? (Come on)
Where the West Coast at? (Come on)
Where the Midwest at? (Come on)
Where the Dirty Dirty at?
Where the hood, where the hood, where the hood at?
Have that nigga in the cut, where the wood at?
Oh, them niggas actin up? Where the wolves at?
You better bust that if you gon' pull that
Where the hood, where the hood, where the hood at?
Have that nigga in the cut, where the wood at?
Oh, them niggas actin up? Where the wolves at?
You better bust that if you gon' pull that
Is you crazy?
Where the hood, where the hood, where the hood at?
Have that nigga in the cut, where the wood at?
Oh, them niggas actin up? Where the wolves at?
You better bust that if you gon' pull that
Where the hood, where the hood, where the hood at?
Have that nigga in the cut, where the wood at?
Oh, them niggas actin up? Where the wolves at?
You better bust that if you gon' pull that
Yo, yo, yo yo, yo
Yo, yo, yo yo, yo
Once it's on, I come though, guns is drawn
(Blap blap) lungs is gone, sons will mourn
From dusk 'til dawn, nighttime belongs to the dog
On the street past midnight, look for 'em in the morgue
I don't play with these cats 'cause I ain't got nothin' to say to these cats
For the mothers that really do love 'em, please pray for these cats
'Cause I know they all hardheaded but I ain't got the patience
Don't want me havin' no patience turn into more patients
More trips to ICU 'cause I see you
Tryna get away with things a real wouldn't do
Where my dogs at? (Right here)
See them niggas? (Right where?)
Get 'em boy (Right there)
That's how we do (Alright then)
Yeah, this is for my dogs, this is for my dogs
Yo, where we at, baby? (Creepin' through the fog)
From then 'til now, don't ask me how
Know that we gon' roll like them cats and hit every block on the job
Where the hood, where the hood, where the hood at?
Have that nigga in the cut, where the wood at?
Oh, them niggas actin up? Where the wolves at?
You better bust that if you gon' pull that
Where the hood, where the hood, where the hood at?
Have that nigga in the cut, where the wood at?
Oh, them niggas actin up? Where the wolves at?
You better bust that if you gon' pull that (come on)
Where the hood at?
It's all good
It's all good, dog is the hood (I am the hood)
It's all good, dog is the hood (I am the streets)
It's all good, dog is the hood
It's all good, dog is the hood (take it how you want, mother)
It's all good, dog is the hood (I'm in the hood all day)
I think I'm like the only, dog
That can go to the projects he grew up in by his self and be good (School Street)
Yeah, ask on my project (Y.O.)
When the last time they seen dog (Y.O.)
Not too long ago, baby
D, Y, ugh
Kato (Where the hood at?)
The song "Where the Hood At" by DMX is a tribute to the streets and the tough men who grew up in them. The opening lines of the chorus invite people from different regions of the United States to represent their hoods. DMX looks for the true essence of the hood, rather than just a physical place. The hood, for him, is a place with a certain mentality and attitude that is present in the streets. He asserts that he is not glad when people get hurt, but he tries to protect himself against those who try to harm him or his own.
The lyrics in the verses depict DMX's readiness to defend himself at all times. He warns his enemies to stay away from him, saying that he has nothing to say to them. Furthermore, he prays for the mothers of those who cause chaos in the hood, as he himself knows the pain of motherhood. He is aware that those who act up may cause harm to themselves or others, and he tries to prevent that from happening. The song is a tribute to the tough and fearless men and women of the hood who face life's biggest obstacles.
Line by Line Meaning
Yo yo, the dog is here
DMX has arrived
Where the East Coast at? (Come on)
Where the West Coast at? (Come on)
Where the Midwest at? (Come on)
Where the Dirty Dirty at? (Come on)
DMX is asking where all the different regions of the United States are located
Where the hood, where the hood, where the hood at?
Have that nigga in the cut, where the wood at?
Oh, them niggas actin up? Where the wolves at?
You better bust that if you gon' pull that
DMX is asking where the dangerous parts of town are and warning those who would start trouble there to be prepared to face violence
Is you crazy?
DMX is rhetorically asking if someone is crazy for starting trouble in the hood
Once it's on, I come though, guns is drawn
(Blap blap) lungs is gone, sons will mourn
From dusk 'til dawn, nighttime belongs to the dog
On the street past midnight, look for 'em in the morgue
DMX is warning those who would start trouble that he will come armed and ready to kill, and that they will end up dead
I don't play with these cats 'cause I ain't got nothin' to say to these cats
For the mothers that really do love 'em, please pray for these cats
'Cause I know they all hardheaded but I ain't got the patience
Don't want me havin' no patience turn into more patients
More trips to ICU 'cause I see you
Tryna get away with things a real wouldn't do
DMX is saying that he doesn't bother talking to troublemakers because they won't listen, and he warns their mothers to pray for them because he won't show mercy if they start trouble with him
Where my dogs at? (Right here)
See them niggas? (Right where?)
Get 'em boy (Right there)
That's how we do (Alright then)
DMX is calling his crew to action and telling them to attack the troublemakers
Yeah, this is for my dogs, this is for my dogs
Yo, where we at, baby? (Creepin' through the fog)
From then 'til now, don't ask me how
Know that we gon' roll like them cats and hit every block on the job
DMX is dedicating the song to his crew and saying they will roll through every block in the hood to punish troublemakers
Where the hood at?
It's all good
It's all good, dog is the hood (I am the hood)
It's all good, dog is the hood (I am the streets)
It's all good, dog is the hood
It's all good, dog is the hood (take it how you want, mother)
It's all good, dog is the hood (I'm in the hood all day)
I think I'm like the only, dog
That can go to the projects he grew up in by his self and be good (School Street)
Yeah, ask on my project (Y.O.)
When the last time they seen dog (Y.O.)
Not too long ago, baby
D, Y, ugh
Kato (Where the hood at?)
DMX is declaring that he is the hood, and that he can go to any project alone and be safe because he is respected there
Lyrics © CAK MUSIC PUBLISHING, INC, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Darrin Dean, Kasseem Dean, Antonio M Hardy, Earl Simmons
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@juliano8218
What a nice group of men trying to find their neighborhood. (Edit) R.I.P. DMX, You won't be forgotten.
@nebulai9587
They are actually reading comments??? DAMNN
@bikelifemedia2191
Not how that was suppose to go but this was a good comment
@Vannerthefool
lol
@mmprimo2187
😂😂😂
@patrik-4387
Nebulai it isnt uploaded by dmx but someone else
@COLDoCLINCHER37
Judge: "You're still facing 12 years"
Tekashi: "I know where the hood at"
@jbweld6193
LOL
@storludde
WHAAT
@jaysongrossi
SSSTTOOPPPPP