Hip-Hop lost a real one last week with the passing of Earl Simmons, AKA DMX (“Dark Man X”). The Ruff Ryders Rapper passed away at 50, on Friday, April 9th after being in a vegetative state for nearly a week, following an induced heart-attack.
Nineties Hip-Hop and Early 2000s cinema as we know it wouldn’t be the same without the remarkable contributions of DMX. He is arguably, one of the most influential and versatile rappers, more like a poet — of all time. His fascination with dogs, often displayed in his music, barking over verses, and in his music video where he almost always had pitbulls as extras; DMX shaped a part of Hip-Hop that can never be replaced.
From iconic collaborations with some of the culture’s most legendary artists: from the late Aaliyah (“Come Back In One Piece”, 2000), to Jay-Z (“Money, Cash, Hoes”,1998) , Nas, Method Man, & Ja Rule (“Grand Finale”, 1998), Faith Evans (“I Miss You”, 2001), and one of his last songs to have a video, with The Lox (“Bout Shit”, 2020) to name a few.
DMX was a poet with the heart of a soldier.
The Bronx-native Rapper’s career began in the nineties when he dropped “Get At Me Dog” (1998). His explosive sound, gangsta rap, and raspy voice brought passion and fire to the rap scene. Electric, his music was just as magnetic as his persona. The way DMX put words to rhythm has touched so many; spinning his gospel was his genius.
Everyone remembers where they were when they first heard a hit DMX song. I remember The Ruff Ryders Anthem, specifically, giving me chills and solidifying my pursuit of rap music. I needed to be an “Eve” amongst Dogs, fellow rappers, who respected good lyricists.
A lyricist, DMX was.
And he inspired the best in people who worked with him in an era where coming up on Smack DVD was common, and natural beauties with natural bodies made the coveted video vixens list.
In a recent interview for Rolling Stone, Drag-on, a fellow Ruff Ryder recalls being discovered by DMX at the age of 17, and X taking him under his wing.
“For me, being 17, and not really knowing I was in a battle until toward the end, I just kept coming at him, and he felt my hunger and felt my pain. He was the one that put the stamp on me…” (Vozick-Levinson, 2021)
No stranger to the gospel, his prayers always managed to make a solid debut in concert and on his studio projects, on “Prayer Skit” (1998), off of his debut album, It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot, he raps a prayer, in what seems to now have aged into a self-fulfilling prophecy; saying:
“It’s a wonderful feeling, to get away from the pain
And up under the ceiling, I get away from the rain
And the strain that I feel when I’m here, is gone
I know real so I wipe away the tears, with a song
And I almost lost faith, when you when you took my man
Monty, Paso, and Jay’s brother Dan
And I fear that what I saying, won’t be heard until I’m gone
But it’s all good, ’cause I really didn’t expect to live long
So if it takes for me to suffer, for my brother to see the light
Give me pain till I die, but please lord treat him right.”
Carrying on his legacy are his early classics, over seven studio albums-worth of hits, his distinguished filmography, his endearing relationships with Rappers from every era, and the Ruff Ryders crew, now spread all over the globe.
Ruff Ryders, founded by X, bred a lot of Artists who then went on to be iconic in their own right. The LOX (Living Off Experience), made up of Yonkers Rappers; Jada Kiss, Sheek Louch, and Styles P (The Ghost) was a spin off group from Ruff Ryders. Eve, the female rapper of the group, whose solo career rode the high wave of the Ruff Ryders movement, went on to become one of the most iconic female rappers of our time, leading women in class and street finesse.
DMX, the actor, was no different. His creative ability to bring alive characters, all the while being his complete self, brought new flavor to old narratives. Cradle to the Grave, Romeo must Die, Belly, and Last Hour are all just some of his screenplays that were nothing short of epic classics. His last debut was during a highly anticipated Instagram Verzuz battle between him and fellow Legend, Snoop Dogg. Now, transitioned from Earth, but never to be forgotten, X lives forever, as he gave us more than just his music — he gave us his soul.
Remembering DMX’s legacy: Here are the18 most influential DMX songs.
Money, Power & Respect (The Lox, ft. DMX & Lil’ Kim) (1998)
What They Really Want ft. Sisqo(2001)
Money, Cash, Hoes (Jay-Z ft. Mephis Bleek & DMX) (1998)