Diddy Passed On Signing DMX Because His Voice Was "Too Rough"

He then offered to double DMX's money after X signed to Def Jam. During an appearance on the Drink Champs podcast, DMX told hosts N.O.R.E. and DJ EFN about a meeting he had with Diddy at a Yonkers studio in 1997 or 1998 in which Diddy told DMX he was going to sign him to Bad Boy. "One thing I respect about Puff is he told me too my face what he thought," DMX recalled. "He said, you're voice is too rough, you're not marketable.' So in my mind, what he's saying is, 'work on this.'" Shortly after the meeting, DMX signed to Def Jam and Diddy had a change of heart. "Maybe two weeks later after he found out I was getting signed by Def Jam, he was like, "Yo, I'll lace your pockets! I'll double what they gave you!" said DMX. DMX's 1998’s debut album It’s Dark And Hell Is Hot went quadruple platinum.