RIP DMX: Remember the rapper with the best songs of his career now
DMX died on April 9, 2021, at age 50 after a cocaine-induced heart attack. The Yonkers rapper left behind a catalog built on raw energy and unmistakable delivery that still rattles car speakers at backyard barbecues and late-night drives.
His family confirmed the news from White Plains Hospital, noting that Earl Simmons remained a fighter until the very end. DMX broke through in the late 1990s with a streak of platinum albums and anthems that captured both the streets and the mainstream. Fans still reach for those tracks when they need volume and conviction.
“X Gon Give It to Ya”
The ultimate DMX anthem, “X Gon Give It to Ya” is probably the most well-known of DMX’s songs. This anthem’s strong beat and punchy lyrics are enough to make anyone get up and dance. “X Gon Give It to Ya” dropped in 2000, but this DMX song didn’t peak on Billboard, only climbing to the number 60 in 2003. It peaked at number 13 on Hot Rap Songs and number 30 on Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop chart.
And as the internet proved, this song was meme-worthy. Starting with an add-on in Resident Evil 2, netizens everywhere made pie charts and memes about what X was gonna “give to ya”. The RE2 connection was made thanks to a character called Mr. X. While there was no relation, once the internet got their hands on Mr. X’s clips, they dubbed “X Gon Give It to Ya” over Me. X’s appearance – and the rest is history.
This DMX song enjoyed another day in the sun after it was featured in Deadpool in 2016. It’s also such a fierce anthem that athletes use it as their “walk-out” or “walk-up” song, including MMA fighter Brian Ortega, Padres outfielder Xavier Nady, and Red Sox infielder Xander Bogaerts. The track still cycles through gaming clips and sports playlists in 2025, keeping its meme life and walk-up status alive years after release.
“Party Up (Up In Here)”
And who can forget the party anthem “Party Up (Up In Here)”? Featured in movies like Zach & Miri Make a Porno and Sausage Party, this song has a strong bounce and will have you chanting “meet me outside” for the rest of the day. Of course, this song was blasted at every single party in the early 2000s.
Believe it or not, this DMX song was DMX’s top song on the Billboard charts, peaking at number 27 in April 2000. It peaked at number 8 on the U.S. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts and VH1 placed this DMX anthem in their “Top 100 Songs of the 00s” at number 56. It remains one of DMX’s highest-charting and most-played tracks across streaming services today.
“How's It Goin' Down”
DMX proved he could slow things down with this smooth song. Featuring some great vocal work from Faith Evans, this DMX song is one of the great slow songs in DMX’s playbook. The song was released in 1998 and the song & music video follows DMX’s reported affair.
Featuring a sample of “God Make Me Funky” by The Headhunters, this DMX song is best known for its video, featuring cameos from rappers Eve, Ja Rule, Drag-On, and Irv Gotti. The year following their cameos, they would shoot to stardom and become 2000s powerhouses in their own rights.
“What They Really Want” (feat. Sisqo)
“What They Really Want”, or “What These B****** Want” if you’re listening to the original, could give “Mambo No. 5” a run for its money with the number of women named in the song. In fact, DMX lists so many women in the lyrics, the song became a social media challenge.
The challenge is this: change up your lewk on social media to coordinate with the forty-six women (we counted), including three different Kims DMX confesses to being with in the song. That’s a lot of lewks!
“Ruff Ryders Anthem”
The one that started it all, this is one of DMX’s first songs released from his debut album, but it remains a perennial favorite. Originally, DMX wanted nothing to do with the song, with songwriter Swizz Beatz explaining:
“I made the ‘Ruff Ryders Anthem’ beat in Atlanta. It was me just bugging out, having my New York influence and having my Atlanta influence. That track was the perfect blend which was awkward and different at the time because nobody had ever heard anything like that. DMX didn't want to do it. He was like, ‘Man, that sounds like some rock 'n' roll track, I need some hip-hop sh*t. I'm not doing that. It's not hood enough.’”
It wasn’t until Darrin & Joaquin Dean convinced DMX to take a second look that DMX agreed. Then, it became one of DMX’s most iconic songs, still being featured in videogames and movies to this day. The track reached No. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 in April 2021 after a streaming surge, and DMX’s son later performed a piano version in an emotional 2026 tribute video that fans shared widely.
Posthumous Releases and Unreleased Music
The estate has kept new material moving. A full album titled DMX Features collects unreleased collaborations and is scheduled for summer 2025. The lead single, “Bring Out the Worst” with Joyner Lucas, arrived in May 2025, with additional appearances from Wiz Khalifa and Kevin Gates already lined up. These tracks give listeners a fresh window into sessions that never made earlier albums.
DMX’s Spiritual Side and 2026 Ministerial Honor
DMX often spoke about faith and planned a gospel album called Walk With Me Now and You'll Fly With Me Later. The estate announced that he will be posthumously ordained as a minister on January 10, 2026. The honor recognizes the spiritual thread that ran through his later years and gives fans another way to frame his legacy beyond the club records.
Estate Developments and Family Legacy
DMX’s sons were named temporary administrators, and a 2025 court ruling confirmed the estate’s ownership of the catalog and intellectual property. The family has continued to approve releases and support tributes while managing the business side of his work. That structure keeps the music available and the tributes coordinated without the earlier legal uncertainty.
DMX’s Enduring Influence on Modern Hip-Hop
Newer artists regularly cite DMX’s honesty and intensity as touchstones. Tributes at awards shows and festivals have continued into 2025 and 2026, often built around the same anthems that defined his peak. The next generation hears the same urgency that fans caught in the late 1990s, and the references keep showing up in verses, samples, and stage moments.
DMX’s voice still carries weight in playlists, sports arenas, and family gatherings. The new releases and honors add chapters to a story that already traveled far beyond Yonkers, while the original anthems keep doing what they always did: turning up the volume and pulling people together.
