DMX was/is my favorite rapper, I remember when he came out though there were a section of fans like Big Mel who thought his act was gimmicky and didn't really like him. Especially extremely underground heavy fans like the Rawkus, Cannibal Ox, Sage Francis listening type (Not saying Big Mel is in that group, just saying that group didn't like X either). Even had people thinking he was fake

even though that nikka did more bids than all their favorite "real hip hop gangsta rappers" did in their lifetime put together. The narrative changed years later and it became the in thing for underground fans to say they liked DMX back in the day, I guess out of nostalgia or frauding.
Either way DMX is that dude and first album is a hip hop classic in every sense. Oh and Big Mel knows his shyt.