DMX fans and friends have taken to social media to pay tribute to the legendary rapper on the second anniversary of his death.
The Ruff Ryders breakout star died on April 9, 2021, at the age of 50. He was originally rushed to the hospital on April 2, 2021, when it was revealed that he’d suffered a heart attack possibly stemming from a drug overdose. After being in a coma for nearly a week, the “Where The Hood At” rapper ultimately lost functionality in many of his vital organs before passing away.
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At the time of his death, many of his friends and peers paid tribute to the fallen legend, including Wyclef Jean, Eve, Missy Elliott, and Swizz Beatz.
Today, fans and friends alike are coming out in droves to pay tribute to the man who helped shape the sound of modern day Hip Hop, with the late rapper’s longtime friend and collaborator Swizz Beatz leading the charge.
“Long live my Dog 4 Life @dmx THE GREAT,” he wrote on Instagram alongside a series of photographs of his friend. “we feel you everyday King.”
View this post on Instagram
Another tribute to DMX (real name Earl Simmons) came from his Ruff Ryders collective, who posted a photo of X’s grave to their Instagram Stories.
The collective also followed it up with an Instagram post that seemed to depict the start of the Ryde Out event.
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The collective first announced the Ryde Out event last month. “Save the date! On April 9th please join the Ruff Ryders Family as we celebrate and remember our brother DMX and all our fallen Soldiers with our NYC Ryde Out!” the late rapper’s label and crew wrote on Instagram.
The post added: “Please bring all your family and friends for a day full of food, fun, games, and music. More details information to come.”

Instagram/Ruff Ryders
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Fans, too, lined up to pay their virtual respects. “Two years ago today we lost one of the greatest hiphop artistes of all time, The Great DMX, Rest In Power King,” wrote one fan on Twitter.
Another wrote: “Today is the 2nd Anniversary of the passing of DMX…Let’s Celebrate his Life and and Legacy today!! You were one of the Realist ‘X’ Inside and Out and we will NEVER forget you or your Music!! R.I.P.”
“Rest In Peace DMX,” wrote Fake Shore Drive‘s Andrew Barber on Twitter. “Here is one of his earliest known promotional posters from 1992. Long Live the Divine Master of the Unknown!!”
Check them out below:
Two years ago today we lost one of the greatest hiphop artistes of all time, The Great DMX, Rest In Power King 🙏🏾🕊️ pic.twitter.com/CNpWIxTawL
— Tobi Marshall (@CoededMarshall) April 9, 2023
Today is the 2nd Anniversary of the passing of DMX…Let's Celebrate his Life and and Legacy today!! You were one of the Realist "X" Inside and Out and we will NEVER forget you or your Music!! R.I.P.🕊🙏 pic.twitter.com/Eq5JsPXA5u
— PAM –A.K.A.–VICE (@NoTime4Fake1s_) April 9, 2023
Rest In Peace DMX
December 18, 1970 – April 9, 2021
Here is one of his earliest known promotional posters from 1992.
Long Live the Divine Master of the Unknown!! pic.twitter.com/obMmpaY9Nx
— Andrew Barber (@fakeshoredrive) April 9, 2023
During the rapper’s memorial service at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center in 2021, Swizz Beatz said he wished people had shown DMX more support while he was alive.
“Words can’t describe our loss, but our gain is heavy as well because we got a real serious person upstairs that’s looking down on us, and that’s going to guide us through our journey,” he said.
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“I just wish all these people showed up for him when he was here. You got thousands of people claiming who they are and tickets and things like that.”
He continued: “This man needed everybody. He didn’t need everybody when he’s not here, he needed everybody when he was here. We have to learn to celebrate each other while we’re here … I don’t want y’all to show up to my shit when I’m gone, unless you was showing up while I was here.”
You can see more tributes to DMX below:
DMX has been gone for 2 years now, but his art and his words live on. 🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/2dDCMer9cJ
— Charles Booker (@Booker4KY) April 9, 2023
Two years ago today we lost @DMX This man – along with a couple of others – quite literally saved my life. I recently made him a permanent part of my everyday life, inking him on my left calf. Now he walks with me everywhere, guiding me through this crazy world. #RIPDMX 🖤 pic.twitter.com/LwBHPjM6Kg
— ill Will (@officialillwill) April 9, 2023
Seeing how tomorrow will be 2 years since we lost DMX 🕊️ I figured I’d post a clip of him keeping it real like he always did.
R.I.P DMX 🕊️ #DMX#HipHoppic.twitter.com/rOUPcN8rVE— TipToe ®️©️ (@MariaMage1) April 9, 2023
Remembering DMX on the second anniversary of his passing 🕊
(December 18, 1970 – April 9, 2021)pic.twitter.com/xzTTichzpm
— Dionne Grant (@DionneGrant) April 9, 2023
Two years ago today we lost Earl Simmons, better known as DMX. An actor and rapper. He was considered to be one of the greatest rappers of his generation.
🕊️May he rest in power.🕊️ pic.twitter.com/0JNQu2WrpK
— 𝓡𝓸𝓫𝓲𝓷 (@QueenMalarcher) April 9, 2023
2021 – DMX
“American rapper, songwriter DMX (Earl Simmons) died age 50. He began rapping in the early 1990s and released his debut album It's Dark and Hell Is Hot in 1998, to both critical acclaim and commercial success. He was the first artist to debut an album at No. 1 five…— ☮️Abbott Zen Supreme💟 (@AbbottSupreme) April 9, 2023
Today makes 2 years the world found out DMX suffered from a heart attack and was put on life support. 6 days later Earl Simmons passed at the age of 50. Dark Man X you are so very very missed. 🥀 pic.twitter.com/zsiGKYjiE7
— Petite GIANT🌻 (@JoProblems) April 3, 2023
aaliyah and dmx on the set of “come back in one piece” music video. they’re both together and at peace now. 🥺💙 pic.twitter.com/iVvUoubBBK
— khalia. | stream people pt. 2🩰🪞 (@VERONASFILMS) April 9, 2023
Earl Simmons
aka DMX
December 18, 1970 – April 9, 2021 pic.twitter.com/9ZCEw0MUal
— Stess The Emcee (@StessTheEmcee) April 9, 2023