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‘Opened up shop’: Arsenal legend Ian Wright pays tribute to DMX on Match of the Day

Adam Miller
Adam Miller

The tragic passing of DMX was confirmed on Friday, with the hugely influential rapper having passed at the age of 50 following a heart attack.

Social media has been full of tributes over the last 48 hours to the man born Earl Simmons.

The man behind such Hip Hop classics as ‘X Gon’ Give It To Ya’, ‘Party Up’ and ‘Ruff Ryders’ Anthem’ achieved phenomenal success in the late ’90s and early ’00s. His first five albums all topped the USA’s Billboard chart, making him the only artist to have released five consecutive albums that debuted at number one.

Icons of the genre including and have paid tribute, but the respect hasn’t just been confined to the Hip Hop community.

Saturday night’s saw Ian Wright work one of X’s most iconic lyrics into a discussion of Leeds United’s surprise 2-1 victory over Premier League leaders Manchester City.

Host Gary Lineker pointed out that “it’s the least possession they’ve (Leeds) enjoyed in any game this season. Fewest shots they’ve managed in any game this season and fewest touches in the opposition box that they’ve had any in any game this season.

“But, they beat the champions-elect. How?”

Arsenal legend Wright replied: “They stopped them, dropped them, opened up shop on them, to be honest”.

That was a reference to the line ‘Stop, drop, shut ’em down, open up shop’ which kicks off 1998’s ‘Ruff Ryders’ Anthem’.

In response, Lineker said: “Nice tribute.”

As of Sunday morning, a featuring Wright’s tribute has been shared over 2,500 times.

As well as becoming one of the most significant figures in the last 25 years of rap, DMX also made numerous film and television appearances.

He starred in such films as Romeo Must Die and Exit Wounds, as well as sending himself up memorably in Chris Rock’s 2014 comedy Top Five.