DMX
Yonkers legend with a raw, barking voice whose first five albums all debuted at number one.
Key albums
It's Dark and Hell Is HotFlesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood...And Then There Was XThe Great Depression
Key tracks
Ruff Ryders' AnthemSlippin'Party Up (Up in Here)X Gon' Give It to Ya
Who is DMX?
DMX (Earl Simmons) was a rapper and actor from Yonkers, New York. He died in 2021.
Known for
His debut It's Dark and Hell Is Hot (1998), with "Ruff Ryders' Anthem", was the start of a unique run: his first five albums all debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. "Slippin'", "Party Up (Up in Here)" and "X Gon' Give It to Ya" are classics.
Style
A raw, growling voice, barks and shouted hooks, combined with painfully honest songs about pain, faith and survival.
Impact
When rap was all about shiny suits and money, DMX brought back raw emotion and street credibility. He is remembered as one of hip-hop's most intense and honest voices.
