“Money, Cash, Hoes” (Jay-Z featuring DMX) (1998)
His gentle side touched listeners and “Slippin’” went gold in 2017, almost 20 years after the fact.ĭMX performing in Ireland in 2004Jeremy Craine/Shutterstockģ. He opens up about his childhood trauma-abusive mother, drug addiction, group homes and juvenile detention among the obstacles he faced. On “Slippin’”, X gets real about overcoming the harder moments in life. DMX encourages Slim Shady as he tells Ja Rule to “die nameless” on one of Eminem’s greatest diss tracks.ĭMX has a softer side, just one he isn’t always known for. “Go to Sleep” (Eminem featuring DMX and Obie Trice) (2003)īeef is a part of hip-hop, so Eminem tagged in DMX and labelmate Obie Trice for a triple-team attack on Ja Rule and fellow rapper Benzino, who infuriated Eminem by calling him “2003 Vanilla Ice”. But the rapper ended up giving the song a try, handing Swizz Beatz his first major hit while creating a genre anthem.ĥ. The third single from It's Dark and Hell Is Hot was produced again by a young Swizz Beatz, who in 2011 told Complex that DMX didn’t think the beat was “hood enough”. One of DMX’s biggest hits, “Ruff Ryders’ Anthem” almost didn’t happen. Swizz Beatz and DMX perform live in 2015Getty Images for Bacardi Standing alongside Sheek Louch, Styles P, Jadakiss, and Lil Kim, DMX looked and sounded like a star, which he would become in just a few short months. The title track on The LOX’s third album, “Money, Power & Respect” featured a young DMX prior to the release of It’s Dark and Hell is Hot. “Money, Power & Respect” (The LOX featuring Lil Kim and DMX) (1998) The song saw a major resurgence in 2016, when it was featured in Marvel’s Deadpool.ĩ. As the lead single on the Cradle 2 the Grave soundtrack, DMX delivers his signature bark and to-the-point bars. Everybody knows who X is and what he’s going to do. His last album, Redemption of the Beast, was released in 2015.Īs the world remembers DMX’s contributions, these are 10 of the rapper’s best songs. This was a feat he’d go on to repeat – DMX was the first artist to reach No 1 on the Billboard 200 with five consecutive albums, changing hip-hop’s chart prominence forever. His debut album, It’s Dark and Hell is Hot, was released in 1998, debuting at No 1 on the Billboard 200 chart in the US and selling over five million copies. He garnered a reputation as a rising star, collaborating with Jay-Z, Ja Rule, The LOX, and LL Cool J.
He leaves behind an inimitable cultural legacy for both his music and acting careers.ĭMX began rapping in the early Nineties, releasing first single “Born Loser” via Columbia Records in 1992. New York rapper DMX, born Earl Simmons, died in the hospital yesterday (9 April), a week after suffering a heart attack and being placed on life support. DMX’s 10 greatest songs – from ‘Ruff Ryders’ Anthem’ to ‘X Gon’ Give it to Ya’ (Getty Images)