DMX 'Gon' Give It to Ya' at Vinyl

“Y’all gonna make me lose my mind, up in here, up in here.”

It’s been 12 years since rapper DMX made those words the hook in one of his biggest hits, “Party Up (Up in Here),” but put this record on in a club today and watch the crowd go crazy like it’s a fresh new track.

The Grammy-nominated song — one of three nominations earned by the man born Earl Simmons — may represent the career peak for “Dog Man X,” but it’s hardly the beginning or the end for one of the biggest names in rap’s past 15 years. Five of DMX’s six studio albums have been certified platinum, with a seventh, “Undisputed,” set to drop in August. He’s landed 20 singles on the Billboard R&B charts, with other hits including “How’s It Goin’ Down,” “Who We Be” and “X Gon’ Give It to Ya.” And that’s not even taking into account guest appearances on tracks from acts such as Jay-Z, LL Cool J, Ja Rule, Ice Cube and Eve.

DMX also is well known as an actor, appearing in such films as “Belly,” “Romeo Must Die,” “Exit Wounds” and “Cradle 2 the Grave.”

In recent years, DMX may be better known for legal troubles than music or acting, serving time on multiple occasions under a variety of charges over the past decade. His last prison stay, which ended just less than a year ago, included a stint in a mental health facility, where he was treated for an undisclosed condition.

Since his release, DMX has been working the comeback trail, including a pre-album club tour that will bring him to Vinyl Music Hall on Tuesday. This will be a rare opportunity to see one of hip-hop’s biggest names in a club setting.