.DMX

DMX ascended to rap stardom in the Nineties with his signature gravelly voice and aggressive delivery and quickly became a key East Coast figure with “Ruff Ryders Anthem,” which is now considered an iconic hit. Over the years, he’s received many accolades — including several Grammys, MTV Video Music Awards, and American Music Awards — acted in films such as Belly, and influenced countless contemporaries and younger artists. It’s safe to say that he’s been canonized as one of hip-hop’s all-time greats. In addition to his musical accomplishments, DMX is known for his eccentric public persona. In recent years, he has become very religious, and when I saw him at Rock the Bells in 2012, his set ran overtime because he launched into a dark sermon about the devil. Catch the legend at the Mezzanine in San Francisco this Saturday.