DMX, the dark prince of hip-hop, passed away on Friday at the age of 50 due to a heart attack. The rapper emerged on the scene in the mid ‘90s as the antithesis to the glossy, suit-wearing rappers pedaled by Puff Daddy and co. X’s abrasive persona coupled with his unfiltered emotion quickly made him one of the most iconic rappers of his era.

Though he appeared larger than life, X never seemed to play a character; he was authentic, often to a fault. Between ad-libbed barks and growls, his fear and pain could be heard. His music was characterized not only by the violence of his surroundings but also by his devotion to God. The balancing act of these two extremes created a vulnerability which resonated with his fans.

Though X had removed himself from the spotlight in recent years, once, for a brief moment in time, he was the biggest rapper on the planet. Like Nirvana had done just a few years earlier, DMX was able to use his music to shape an entire generation.

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