DMX’s legacy was immortalized as a man beloved by his family, honoured for his strong faith and respected as one of hip-hop’s greatest icons at his memorial service on Saturday, with several heartfelt speeches from those who knew the rapper best.
Born Earl Simmons, the iconic rapper died April 9 after suffering a “catastrophic cardiac arrest.” He spent several days on life support after being rushed to a New York hospital from his home April 2.
Read Also: Breaking: Iconic Rapper, DMX Dies At 50 – One Week After Heart Attack
The speakers included friends, Swizz Beatz and Nas, as well as his daughter, who rapped in honour of her father.
Kanye West and Busta Rhymes were among the big names who attended the two-hour ceremony at Barclays Center in New York. The service at Brooklyn arena was closed to the public and restricted to close friends and family because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Read Also: DMX’s Public Memorial To Hold At Barclays Center On April 24
In a touching moment, DMX’s 15 children gathered on stage to talk — and sometimes rap — about the star as a father who taught them such lessons as “always say thank you,” “be kind to everyone” and that being afraid can sometimes show a person how to be brave.
DMX’s daughter has bars for days #DMXFuneral pic.twitter.com/cv5Fwana8I
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) April 24, 2021
“Our father is a king. Our father is an icon,” eldest son, Xavier Simmons said, adding that he was honored to be his son: “This man deepened my ability to love.”
Tashera Simmons, DMX’s ex-wife, told the audience;
Everything he did, he did for you all. He always wanted to please you. He always wanted to give you his best show. What he wants you to do is love Jesus the same way he did. Love his babies. Love his family.
Sheesh DMX’s casket has arrived at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center pic.twitter.com/Mzhdu17CU0
— BlackCultureEntertainment🗣 (@4TheCulture____) April 24, 2021
Kanye West’s Sunday Service Choir kicked off the ceremony with a gospel performance. The hoodie sweatshirt-wearing ensemble performed a few songs, including their arrangement of “Excellent” and Soul II Soul’s “Keep On Movin’.”
The choir took the stage during other moments of the ceremony, performing “Ultralight Beam” and Whitney Houston’s assisted vocals on the hymn “Jesus Loves Me.”
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Kanye West opened DMX’s memorial with his Sunday Service Choir ❤️🤍 pic.twitter.com/E5ljVBzHPA
— mariano 🦦 (@oscos) April 24, 2021
On his part, Nas reminisced about having a conversation with a teary-eyed DMX while filming a scene for “Belly,” a crime drama.
He said DMX became emotional knowing the rapper was about to embark on a journey to become a “hip-hop icon.”
Nas speaks at DMX’s Memorial. #DMXMemorial pic.twitter.com/jY6r3SoVZ2
— Rap Alert (@rapalert3) April 24, 2021
“It’s a sad day as well as a glorious day,” said Nas, who starred with DMX in the 1998 film.
He further expressed;
That was my brother. We did a great movie together. On that movie, he was just rising up as a star. His first album didn’t even come out yet, but he knew his journey was starting.
Prayers over @dmx’s coffin ✊ #DMXMemorial #dmx #RuffRyders #RIPDMX pic.twitter.com/Z66nSwqH5e
— , A Better Man (@mwiiiinga) April 24, 2021
Before the service, a massive black big-wheel truck with the words “LONG LIVE DMX” on a side of the vehicle carried DMX’s shiny red casket for more than 15 miles from Yonkers, New York — where the rapper grew up — to Barclays Center.
DMX casket in a monster truck accompanied by thousands of bikes at his memorial in Barclays. pic.twitter.com/1Vs2M1Zxkw
— Instablog9ja (@instablog9ja) April 25, 2021
A plethora of motorcycles trailed the truck during the procession before arriving at the arena, where thousands of people crowded the streets.
Read Also: ‘RIP DMX’ – Fans, Musicians, Rap Community Mourn Iconic Rapper
Thousands of motorcycle riders surrounded the monster truck, revving up their engines. Others gathered at the arena while some of DMX’s biggest songs from “Where The Hood At” and “Ruff Ryders’ Anthem” blared from the crowd’s speakers.
#dmxfuneral procession is a loud, messy, chaotic, beautiful, iconic, one of a kind and most importantly it’s on hell of a Ruff Ryde… everything that embodies who DMX was #RIPDMX #DMXforever #DMXMemorial pic.twitter.com/Jv2Xj0Jlqn
— Sabz (@Sabby_Sabz) April 24, 2021
Programs with images of DMX were handed out to the service’s attendees ahead of the ceremony, which was livestreamed on the rapper’s YouTube channel.
The four-page booklet had different images of the rapper, including one with his arms folded with wings and another photo of him standing on stage during a performance.
A look at the booklet given out at DMX’s Celebration of Life event🕊️♥️😓#RIPDMX #DMXMEMORIAL #DMXforever ✨ pic.twitter.com/dxghXmn1ae
— Lyrica_33 (@_LaBonitaFever) April 24, 2021
The 50-year-old Grammy-nominated rapper delivered iconic hip-hop songs such as “Ruff Ryders’ Anthem” and “Party Up (Up in Here).”
DMX arrived on the rap scene around the same time as Jay-Z, Ja Rule and others who dominated the charts and emerged as platinum-selling acts.
They were all part of rap crews, too: DMX fronted the Ruff Ryders collective, which had success on the charts and on radio with its “Ryde or Die” compilation albums.
Along with his musical career, DMX paved his way as an actor. He starred in “Belly” and appeared in 2000′s “Romeo Must Die” with Jet Li and Aaliyah. DMX and Aaliyah teamed up for “Come Back in One Piece” on the film’s soundtrack.
DMX’s funeral service will be held at 2:30 p.m on Sunday. It will be broadcast live on BET and the network’s YouTube channel.
