This Is the Way (Five Finger Death Punch song)
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| "This Is the Way" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Five Finger Death Punch featuring DMX | ||||
| from the album AfterLife (Deluxe Edition) | ||||
| Released | April 4, 2024[1] | |||
| Genre | Rap rock[2][3] | |||
| Length | 2:47 | |||
| Label | Better Noise | |||
| Songwriters |
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| Producers |
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| Five Finger Death Punch singles chronology | ||||
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| DMX singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "This Is the Way" on YouTube | ||||
"This Is the Way" is a song by American heavy metal band Five Finger Death Punch, featuring the late American rapper DMX. It was released on April 4, 2024, as a single from the digital deluxe edition of their ninth studio album, AfterLife. It reached number one on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay and Hard Rock Digital Song Sales charts.
According to guitarist Zoltan Bathory, the band had discussed collaborating with DMX for several years.[4][5] The song incorporates previously unreleased audio recordings by DMX.[6] Bathory stated they removed the original instrumentation from DMX's recordings and composed new music around his vocals. The use of DMX's recordings required approval from every person involved in the original recordings, and the track was held back and not included on the original release of AfterLife.[7] Bathory described the track as a salute to the rapper and a way to honor his memory.[8][9] He also said the collaboration placed the song in additional radio and streaming outlets, potentially exposing the band to new audiences.[10][11]
The song was announced on January 12, 2024, as a bonus track included on the digital deluxe edition of AfterLife.[12] It was scheduled for release on February 9, 2024, alongside a music video and coinciding with the release of the deluxe album.[13] On February 7, 2024, it was announced that the deluxe album release, including the song, had been postponed to April 5, 2024.[14]
Composition
The track combines elements of DMX's 2009 song "The Way It's Gonna Be" and the band's earlier track "Judgement Day".[15][16] Billboard described it as a "rocking" track,[17] while Revolver called it "high-octane".[18] MetalSucks characterized it as an "emotional" track dealing with struggles in everyday life.[19]
Music video
The music video was directed by Hype Williams and released on April 5, 2024.[20][21] The video combines black-and-white performance footage of the band with memorial murals, cartoon images and photos of DMX.[17]
Track listing
Chart performance
The song debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hard Rock Digital Song Sales chart.[15] It reached No. 1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay chart on June 15, 2024,[22] marking DMX's first No. 1 entry[23] and his first appearance on a rock chart. It is their 11th consecutive No. 1 on the chart and their fifteenth overall.[24] It also reached No. 1 on Active Rock radio.[25]