In honor of late rap legendDMX, who died onFriday at age 50 after suffering a heart attack, his longtime supporters are continuing to recognize his musical legacy.
“Earl was a warrior who fought till the very end. He loved his family with all of his heart and we cherish the times we spent with him,“his family wrotein a statement following his death. “Earl’s music inspired countless fans across the world and his iconic legacy will live on forever.”
Listen below to our interview with hip-hop historian Marc Lamont Hill about DMX’s incredible legacy below on ourdaily podcast PEOPLE Every Day.
Over the course of his decades-long career, DMX released eight studio albums, including five No. 1Billboard200 hits. Among his No. 1 chart-toppers are his studio album debutIt’s Dark and Hell is Hot, along with…And Then There Was X, Flesh of My Flesh Blood of My Blood, The Great DepressionandGrand Champ.
DMX.KMazur/WireImage
Take a stroll down memory lane with some of the late DMX’s most beloved tunes.
DMX.Warner Bros./Getty
“Party Up (Up in Here)”
One of DMX’s most famous party jams is “Party Up (Up in Here).” The song was released in 1999 and peaked at No. 27 on theBillboardHot 100, where it charted for 21 weeks.
“Party Up (Up in Here)” was released in three formats — an explicit album version, a censored album version and the radio/music video edition.
As of April 7, the song has amassed more than 117 million views on YouTube alone — making it his third most played song on the video streaming platform.
“Money, Power & Respect” is among the most nostalgia-bringing featuring DMX.
Put plainly, “Money, Power, Respect” is an anthem.
“Money, power and respect / What you need in life / Money, power and respect / When you eatin' right,” the chorus goes. “Money, power and respect / Help you sleep at night / You’ll see the light / It’s the key to life.”
“Ruff Ryders' Anthem”
DMX’s “Ruff Ryders' Anthem” is one of the rapper’s most popular songs to date.
The song is an anthem for Ruff Ryder’s Entertainment record label as well as the Ruff Ryders motorcycle crew.
Many of the motorcycle club membersdrove through the prayer vigil that honored DMXoutside of New York City’s White Plains Hospital on April 5 in support of the star days before his death.
“Ruff Ryders” is the Baltimore, Maryland native’s second most-viewed song on YouTube with more than 141 million plays on the platform as of April 7.
“Get at Me Dog” featuring Sheek
In another collaboration with Sheek Louch, a member of The Lox hip-hop group, DMX’s hit song “Get at Me Dog” brought in his second highest peak position on theBillboardHot 100.
“Get at Me Dog” also earned spots on both theBillboardHot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks list and the Hot Rap Singles chart — it peaked at No. 19 and 6 on each respectively.
“What They Really Want” Featuring Sisqo
DMX’s “What They Really Want” (which aired on radio as “What You Want”) features fellow ’90s sensation Sisqo and was the late rapper’s third highest-charting single. It peaked at No. 49 on the Hot 100 where it charted for 20 weeks.
The song earned its peak position on Sept. 22, 2000 — less than two months ahead of DMX’s 30th birthday on Dec. 18.
It was the third single that appeared on the hitmaker’s third studio album ….And Then There Was X.
“What You Want” featuring Sisqo also appeared on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart andBillboard’sRhythmic list.
“Who We Be” and “X Gon' Give It to Ya'”
DMX’s fan-favorite solo tunes “Who We Be” and “X Gon' Give It to Ya” are tied for the star’s fifth highest peak position on the Hot 100 chart.
Both songs peaked at No. 60 on the list on Nov. 23, 2001 and April 4, 2003, respectively. “Who We Be” charted for 12 weeks and two years later, “X Gon' Give It To Ya” charted for 16 weeks.
Though it peaked at No. 60 on the list, “X Gon' Give It to Ya” holds DMX’s record for most viewed music video on YouTube (as of April 7, when the song had more than 161 million plays on the streaming platform).
“First, we gonna rock, then we gonna roll / Then we let it pop, go, let it go (What),” he raps. “X gon' give it to ya (Uh), he gon' give it to ya.”
The song gained extreme popularity as the lead single on the soundtrack for the action-packed 2003 hit film titledCradle 2 the Grave, which starred DMX and Jet Li.
source: people.com
