Did DMX Pioneer this Archetype

Max Stimulation · 2025-08-18T00:41:57Z

- Did DMX Pioneer this Archetype | in hiphop

@ 06:41 PM 08-17-2025

Max Stimulation

461 4 days ago

'25

I feel like at the time he blew up, DMX reminded people of Pac. However, I feel like he was the blueprint for a specific archetype of a rapper.

DMX was born and raised in an unpleasant and violent environment. He blew up and quickly became a sensation, selling millions of records detailing the highs and lows of his upbringing and life, with the grittiness that comes with his authenticity. Eventually, he doesn�t adapt with the times, and gets dumped by the industry and fans for the next hot trend. The trauma�s and substance abuse don�t help matters at all.

And I feel like after him, labels replicated his marketing and success with other figures such as Lil Durk, Polo G, Kodak Black, Pooh Shiesty, and the majority of street rappers aside from guys like Gucci and Jeezy who managed to build lasting brands.

The archetype does feel kind of �general� but I feel like there�s some aesthetics that you see that separate DMX from prior superstars and connect him to street rappers that came after.

Another thing that stuck out to me was reading about how Lyor Cohen discovered him and how he was salivating over X (rip)

-7

22 comments best trash

Dr Imhrat Khan

^x3

27 K 4 days ago

'19

Rest In Eternal Light, Dark Man X.

Dash

^x19

182 K 4 days ago

'04

X is a top 5 rap ‘talent’ of all time

Bro is the whole package as an artist.

+10

Dilly

^x52

38 K 4 days ago

'15

DMX was talent that was cultivated in the streets. He was the product of the gritty environment around him. Tupac was a ballerina from Performing Arts school.

-4

Duntaz

^x7

88 K 4 days ago

'04

X never reminded me of Pac the same way Ja never reminded me of X. But I think they were spirits that would've be brothers. Like Treach and Pac or Bokeem, just passionate and real individuals.

Last edited by Duntaz; 08-18-2025 at 07:53 AM..

abstractq

44 K 4 days ago

'04

I don’t get why DMX reminds people of Pac

Pac was an eloquent speaker and had feminine mannerisms and was much more of a revolutionary thinker than dmx

-2

Wooly Mammoth

5 K 4 days ago

'25

Dmx>camel

KillaNipZayKiss

10 K 4 days ago

'22

I don't think Durk was marketed like X at all.

HonkIfULuvHoez

183 4 days ago

'04

Dilly said

DMX was talent that was cultivated in the streets. He was the product of the gritty environment around him. Tupac was a ballerina from Performing Arts school.

sh1t meant to prop!!! I agree with this fully !!!!!

-1

Berr

7 K 4 days ago

'17

X didn't come up quickly

RidleyScotch

1 K 4 days ago

'22

DMX is in very rare club in hip hop: the acclaim, the commercial success, and the general consensus of being the undisputed hottest rapper in the game. Maybe he is derivative of a generation of NY gun slingers but everybody knows DMX was special. To each his own, but no X slander will be tolerated. RIP

Lester86

2 K 4 days ago

'04

Berr said

X didn't come up quickly

Correct. Of all the legends, he probably had the longest road to success. Like 12 to 13 years to get on, when he was 27-28 yrs old. His career started in the mid 80s, i heard about him in the early 90s when he was rappin like Rakim.

I remember the Lox saying even though they got on first from Yonkers he was the big homie and was a local rap legend in the streets already. Later on he had more of a "The Diary" Scarface style of rap. His trauma come from his abusive mom, being in a group home, and then homeless and on drugs from his early teens. Dee and Waah said it was a minor miracle they got him clean as long as they did.

xbossxplayax

54 K 3 days ago

'04

I dont remember anyone after him that fits his archetype

Its not something the machine can tell someone to copy unlike NWA/CB4 archetype or the run-of-the-mill drug dealer/gangster cosplayer

EZ Green

^x2

110 K 3 days ago

'13

X was and is a 1 of 1. fu#k rappers,god barely make humans like X

Jaye85

^x1

7 K 3 days ago

'20

Duntaz said

X never reminded me of Pac the same way Ka never reminded me of X. But I think they were spirits that would've be brothers. Like Treach and Pac or Bokeem or jist passionate and real individuals.

I'd also add Prodigy from Mobb to that list

Berr

7 K 3 days ago

'17

Lester86 said

Correct. Of all the legends, he probably had the longest road to success. Like 12 to 13 years to get on, when he was 27-28 yrs old. His career started in the mid 80s, i heard about him in the early 90s when he was rappin like Rakim.

I remember the Lox saying even though they got on first from Yonkers he was the big homie and was a local rap legend in the streets already. Later on he had more of a "The Diary" Scarface style of rap. His trauma come from his abusive mom, being in a group home, and then homeless and on drugs from his early teens. Dee and Waah said it was a minor miracle they got him clean as long as they did.

I remember him beatboxing for just ice

[see video]

Lester86

2 K 3 days ago

'04

Berr said

I remember him beatboxing for just ice

I didn't know about that until way later, i found out about X through the unsigned hype placement and stretch and Bobbito freestyle. My favorite rapper in 91 was Rakim and he sounded just like em.

[see photo]

[see video]

kevin boogz

^x10

54 K 3 days ago

'11

DMX did remind people of pac but not in the way as people think. It was more the looks. Bald head and tattoos.

Ja even had the same effect. Even sure knight told him he reminded him of pac. But people were kind of clowning ja rule as a fake pac when he came on the scene.

Now that it think about it. It makes sense that he wanted to switch his style up and started singing. Cause people were saying he trying to be pac some even said X.

Last edited by kevin boogz; 08-18-2025 at 09:40 AM..

Negusis

^x7

57 K 3 days ago

'16

abstractq said

I don�t get why DMX reminds people of Pac

Pac was an eloquent speaker and had feminine mannerisms and was much more of a revolutionary thinker than dmx

That's who they tried to portray him as when he 1st came out commercially. It was short lived, but they tried it. Dark skinned, bald headed, bandannas, always with his shirt off, etc.

Most people have never actually sat down and listened to Tupac speak. So, all of that sh1t didn't matter.

Max Stimulation ^OP

461 3 days ago

'25

RidleyScotch said

DMX is in very rare club in hip hop: the acclaim, the commercial success, and the general consensus of being the undisputed hottest rapper in the game. Maybe he is derivative of a generation of NY gun slingers but everybody knows DMX was special. To each his own, but no X slander will be tolerated. RIP

How did I slander DMX. I said he pioneered a subgenre and wasn�t treated with the respect he deserved by the industry.

Max Stimulation ^OP

461 3 days ago

'25

Lester86 said

Correct. Of all the legends, he probably had the longest road to success. Like 12 to 13 years to get on, when he was 27-28 yrs old. His career started in the mid 80s, i heard about him in the early 90s when he was rappin like Rakim.

I remember the Lox saying even though they got on first from Yonkers he was the big homie and was a local rap legend in the streets already. Later on he had more of a "The Diary" Scarface style of rap. His trauma come from his abusive mom, being in a group home, and then homeless and on drugs from his early teens. Dee and Waah said it was a minor miracle they got him clean as long as they did.

I knew about his childhood but not his long come up. That�s interesting. I knew Jay had been rapping for years before Reasonable Doubt, but not about DMX. It�s crazy how bottlenecked talent was in NYC back then

Max Stimulation ^OP

461 3 days ago

'25

xbossxplayax said

I dont remember anyone after him that fits his archetype

Its not something the machine can tell someone to copy unlike NWA/CB4 archetype or the run-of-the-mill drug dealer/gangster cosplayer

Many street rappers discuss similar themes in their music, and have similar relationships with the industry where they have a massive peak and then get thrown out when they�re not at the top, while still contending with their demons.

Kodak Black is a good example of that rn.

RidleyScotch

1 K 3 days ago

'22

Max Stimulation said

How did I slander DMX. I said he pioneered a subgenre and wasn�t treated with the respect he deserved by the industry.

Never said you did but the thread definitely contains people disrespecting X. I�m half joking because I don�t intend to police the internet and find the people �slandering� DMX. Just defending one of the goats here on boxden. It is my duty and for ronny to hate