DMX

 DMX was the hardcore rap the heir to 2Pac and the Notorious B.I.G. The most famous Ruff Ryders MC was that rare commodity: a commercial powerhouse with street cred and artistic appeal to the max. His rise to fame was actually almost 10 years in the making, which gave him a opportunity to create the stage image that made him one of rap's most memorable personalities during his heyday. The entire look of DMX was intense. From his tattooed, muscular physique to his snarling delivery that was a perfect match for the lyrical obsession he had with dogs. Also, there was substance behind the style. A lot of his work was held to the split between the sacred and the profane. The singer could shift from a sombre spiritual ache one minute to telling a story about the sexiness of the streets in the next, but keep it all part of the same intricate character, sort of like the hip-hop Johnny Cash. The results were so compelling to make DMX the first artist to see his initial five albums, ranging beginning with 1998's It's Dark, and Hell Is Hot , through 2003's Grand Champ, enter the Billboard 200 at number one. The year of the Dog...Again the last album he recorded for Ruff Ryders almost extended his streak to six in 2003. Undisputed was his final studio album. The band continued to release singles up to 2021. After his tragic death that year, his ninth studio album and the first posthumous material, Exodus, was released.