"Ruff Ryders' Anthem" is an electrifying, genre-defining hardcore rap classic by Yonkers legend DMX (Earl Simmons). Released on May 4, 1998, as the third single from his multi-platinum debut studio album It's Dark and Hell Is Hot, the track not only propelled DMX to superstardom but also became the ultimate signature anthem for the Ruff Ryders entertainment empire, permanently shifting the landscape of late-90s hip-hop away from shiny-suit commercialism back to raw, gritty street energy.