The life and legacy of rapper DMX was immortalized on Saturday in a star-studded memorial service in Brooklyn, two weeks after the 50-year-old hip-hop icon died of a heart attack.
Fellow rap stars Kanye West, Busta Rhymes, and Eve were among the big names who attended the two-hour ceremony at the Barclays Center where DMX's shiny red casket was displayed following a funeral procession from Yonkers - where the rapper grew up.
The service at the arena was closed to the public and restricted to close friends and family due to coronavirus restrictions, but was livestreamed on DMX's YouTube channel.
The speakers included friends Swizz Beatz and Nas, as well as DMX's daughter, who rapped in honor of her father.
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.
Relatives emphasized his love of Jesus and his drive to make his fans happy, giving audiences the best show he could every time.
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.'
'It's a sad day as well as a glorious day,' said Nas, who starred with DMX in the 1998 film. '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.'
Eve said she was still having a hard time with DMX's death, remembering him as a 'man, a father, a friend.' She stood on stage with the Ruff Ryders collective, which helped launch the careers of Grammy winners Eve and Swizz Beatz and relaunch The Lox, formerly signed to Bad Boy Records.
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