The hip hop world was dealt a heavy blow in April 2021 with the sudden death of Yonkers-bred rapper DMX. Fans and fellow musicians alike were left reeling from the loss of the iconic “X Gon’ Give It to Ya” MC, who was known not only for his music but for his humility and dedication to his craft. Two years after his passing, the hip hop community is still coming to terms with his absence, but some are finding ways to honor his legacy.
Ruff Ryders Entertainment, the label and crew with which DMX was closely associated, is hosting a Ryde Out celebration and motorcycle caravan in honor of the late rapper. The event, which is set to take place on April 9, 2023, will bring together members of the Ruff Ryders Family as well as fans and friends of DMX to celebrate his life and the contributions he made to hip hop and popular culture.
In an Instagram post announcing the event, Ruff Ryders encouraged attendees to “bring all your family and friends for a day full of food, fun, games and music,” promising more detailed information to come. The Ryde Out is just the latest in a series of bike-centric events hosted by the label in honor of DMX, following a similar event that took place in Yonkers in 2022.
At DMX’s memorial service in Brooklyn’s Barclays Center in 2021, the rapper’s longtime collaborator Swizz Beatz spoke about the impact that DMX had on the hip hop community and the world at large. “This man needed everybody. He didn’t need everybody when he’s not here, he needed everybody when he was here,” he said. “We have to learn to celebrate each other while we’re here.”
DMX’s impact on the hip hop world continues to be felt today, with artists paying tribute to him in their music and in public appearances. On February 24, Lil Wayne released a song called “Kant Nobody” that pays homage to the New York legend, reworking DMX’s “N**gaz Done Started Something” from his 1998 debut album, It’s Dark & Hell Is Hot. The track, which was produced by Swizz Beatz, is just one example of the lasting legacy that DMX has left behind in the world of hip hop and beyond.
As fans and friends of DMX prepare to gather in his honor for the Ryde Out celebration, it’s clear that his memory will continue to live on in the hearts and minds of those who loved him and were inspired by his music and his life.
