Ruff_ryders_anthem Apr 2026

Released on May 5, 1998, "Ruff Ryders’ Anthem" became the third single from DMX’s debut album, . It didn't just top the charts; it shifted the entire sound of the era. At a time when hip-hop was leaning into glossy, "shiny suit" production, DMX brought a feral intensity back to the forefront.

: The music video featured the crew bodybuilding and performing stunts on motorcycles, cementing the Ruff Ryders as more than just a label—it was a lifestyle of brotherhood and survival. ruff_ryders_anthem

The song only happened because DMX lost a game of cards to Ruff Ryders co-founder . The stakes? If DMX lost, he had to record over the Swizz Beatz instrumental. After losing the bet, DMX reportedly went into the studio and wrote the lyrics in just 15 minutes . Released on May 5, 1998, "Ruff Ryders’ Anthem"