He forged one of the most distinctive rap styles in the game, but DMX couldn't have honed his trademark growling sound without drawing upon the work of his hip-hop ancestors. Onyx's combination of grisly flow, hard-hitting beats, and aggressive aura created a blueprint for the Ruff Ryder to study, while his gruff East Coast street cuts are also inspired by Wu-Tang Clan's uncompromising mix of gritty imagery and knuckle-duster drums.