When it comes to iconic hip hop album covers, few are as memorable as the striking image for DMX’s Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood. Shot by legendary photographer Jonathan Mannion, this cover isn’t just a photo – it’s a visual story that captures the raw intensity of DMX's persona and the unapologetic energy of his music. But what went on behind the scenes of this powerful shoot? Let’s dive in to the making of one of the most unforgettable album covers in hip hop history.
The Vision Behind the Cover
Released in 1998, Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood was DMX’s second studio album and a critical part of his rise to superstardom. Known for his gritty, aggressive style, and emotional depth, DMX wanted the album cover to reflect the duality of his character—both the toughness and vulnerability that his music conveyed.
Jonathan Mannion, the photographer who would go on to define the look of hip hop throughout the late '90s and 2000s, was chosen to bring this vision to life. Mannion’s work was already well-known in the industry, with a portfolio that included iconic album covers for Jay-Z, Nas, and Aaliyah. However, shooting DMX was going to be different. This shoot needed to show the world DMX at his rawest.
The Infamous Blood Scene
The cover photo itself is haunting—DMX posed with a look of intense focus, his face covered in what appears to be blood. It’s an unsettling yet compelling image that resonates with the album’s title. However, the blood wasn’t what most people assumed it to be.
In a 2019 interview, Mannion revealed the truth behind the bloody shoot: it wasn’t actual blood. To achieve that striking effect, Mannion used a special formula made to resemble blood. They needed the red liquid to look realistic and striking, but also to dry quickly enough for the shoot.
The blood served as a visual metaphor—DMX was laying himself bare for the world to see. The symbolism of flesh and blood speaks to the raw emotion and the vulnerability that’s so present in DMX’s music. DMX wasn’t just giving his audience the hard-edged persona he was known for; he was also exposing his true, deeper self.
Jonathan Mannion’s Story Behind the Shoot
Mannion recalls the process of shooting the album cover with a deep sense of purpose. "Originally, we were supposed to shoot [the cover] in New York, but we had to switch to L.A. because X was so busy at the time. His popularity was through the roof." At the time, DMX was at the height of his career, and his schedule was packed. The label had warned Mannion that they wouldn't be able to speak with DMX beforehand, but they still gave him complete creative freedom, handing him the title of the album and telling him he could do anything he wanted with the shoot.
Mannion took a bold approach. He knew that using blood as a prop was risky, especially given its connection to violence or horror in many people’s minds. But he had a different interpretation in mind. “It was a risk to put him in a pool of blood. Everybody instantly thinks violence and horror, but in my mind, why isn’t it a protection thing—covered in the blood of Christ?” Mannion explained. The blood wasn’t meant to symbolize destruction, but rather protection, faith, and strength.
He chose a white background for the shoot, a decision that was both deliberate and symbolic. “I went with the white [background] to evoke this peaceful, prayerful side of him, which speaks clearly to faith and his belief in himself. The red was the intensity of the delivery of his message. You couldn’t look away.” The contrast between the white and red wasn’t just visually striking—it spoke to the balance between peace and conflict that DMX often rapped about.
Mannion also had a unique challenge when it came to convincing DMX to get into the “bath of blood” itself. “I had 60 gallons of blood in a bathtub... and I’m looking at him, and he’s looking back at me. He was like, ‘You want me to get in it?’ And I was like, ‘Yeah, that’s how it’s gonna happen today.’” DMX wasn’t sold on the idea at first, questioning whether it was the right move, especially because he was wearing new pants. “Aw man dawg, I’m not going to get in it because man, I don’t know if it’s right. I’ve got these new pants on.”
To break the tension, Mannion took off his own pants in front of a studio of 20 people to offer them to DMX at which point he got in. This moment captured Mannion’s dedication to the creative process, and DMX’s willingness to trust the vision, no matter how unconventional.
The Iconic Pose
The actual shot that became the album cover was a result of DMX being fully immersed in the moment. Mannion and his team were impressed by how effortlessly DMX tapped into the persona he wanted to portray. They took several photos, but there was one shot that stood out—the one where DMX looks straight into the camera, face dripping with the red liquid, with a look of absolute fierceness. The image captured both the man and the myth—the rugged exterior and the emotional depth of DMX.
As Mannion recalls, DMX wasn’t shy about being vulnerable in front of the camera. The image exudes not just the toughness DMX was known for but also an unfiltered openness that showed he wasn’t afraid to wear his heart on his sleeve. The vulnerability mixed with strength was an essential aspect of DMX’s public persona, and Mannion was able to immortalize it with just one shot.
The Aftermath and Legacy
After the shoot, the album cover became an instant classic in the hip hop world. It wasn’t just a marketing tool—it became an emblem of DMX’s legacy. The cover’s shocking imagery was as much a part of the album’s success as the music itself. Fans and critics alike were drawn into the raw energy it conveyed, and it cemented DMX’s place as one of the most complex and compelling figures in hip hop.
Jonathan Mannion’s photography was instrumental in turning this vision into reality. His ability to capture the spirit of the artist and the essence of the music was a skill that many came to rely on, and the Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood album cover was one of the pinnacle moments of his career. The starkness of the image, coupled with its powerful symbolism, became an iconic representation of a man who wasn’t afraid to confront his demons, both on and off the mic.
The behind-the-scenes story of this cover reminds us that every iconic album cover has a story, and sometimes those stories are as raw and real as the music itself. For DMX and Jonathan Mannion, the shoot for Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood wasn’t just about creating a visually arresting image—it was about capturing a moment in time that would live on in hip hop history forever.