BROOKLYN, N.Y. — DMX went out like an icon: Family, friends and fellow artists joined together to pay their respects to the legendary rapper at his memorial service Saturday.
The Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, usually booming with basketball fans or concert attendees, housed a somber celebration for the life of the late rapper. Masked family members and friends honored his life together with a pared down audience of about 200 people at the venue, which can seat up to 19,000. The melodies of Kanye West’s Sunday Service Choir flooded the arena, shaking its walls.
Artists, family and friends got on stage to acknowledge the impact the Ruff Ryders rapper had on their lives. Members of the Ruff Ryders music label like Eve, Swizz Beatz, Drag-On and founding member Joaquin “Waah” Dean shared the mic to express words of gratitude and lessons he taught them.
“Thank you for the energy that everyone has brought here today, the celebration of how great we all know DMX was, (and) what he has left behind,” rapper Eve said, on the brink of tears. “This is so hard, y’all. He will rest in power, rest in love, but most of all he will rest in peace.”
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Swizz Beatz sent a poignant message.
“I just wish all these people showed up for him when he was here,” the “Ruff Ryders’ Anthem” producer said. “He needed everybody when he was here, we got to learn to celebrate each other…
