The New York-raised rapper had seen five of his albums top the Billboard 200: 1998’s “It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot,” 1999’s “Flesh of My Flesh Blood of My Blood,” 2000’s “…And Then There Was X,” 2001’s “The Great Depression,” and 2003’s “Grand Champ.” 

He also earned three Grammy nominations: a 2000 Best Rap Solo Performance nomination for “Party Up,” a 2000 Best Rap Album nod for “…And Then There Was X,” and a 2001 Best Rap Solo Performance nomination for “Who We Be.”

DMX was an actor, as well, having starred opposite Jet Li in the 2000 action pic Romeo Must Die and again in the 2003 crime drama Cradle 2 the Grave, and opposite Steven Sagal in the 2001 thriller Exit Wounds.