The Great Depression

“The Great Depression” is the fourth studio album by American rapper DMX, released on 23 October 2001 by Ruff Ryders Entertainment and Def Jam Recordings. The album features production by Just Blaze, Dame Grease, Black Key, and DMX himself, and includes guest appearances from Stephanie Mills, Faith Evans, and Mashonda.

Supported by three singles—”We Right Here,” “Who We Be,” and “I Miss You”—the album showcased DMX’s strong ties with the Ruff Ryders. Debuting at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart, it sold 440,000 copies in its first week and was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in December 2001.

The first single, “We Right Here,” was released on 14 August 2001. Although it did not chart on the Billboard Hot 100, it reached number 17 on the US Bubbling Under the Hot 100 and peaked at number 43 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and number eight on the US Hot Rap Songs chart. The second single, “Who We Be,” released on 25 September 2001, reached number 60 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 16 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, and number ten on the US Hot Rap Songs chart. The third single, “I Miss You,” released on 15 January 2002, peaked at number 86 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 37 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

In its second week, the album fell to number three on the Billboard 200, with an additional 214,000 copies sold. As of October 2009, “The Great Depression” has sold 2,250,000 copies in the United States.