Someone earlier in the thread called him a force of nature.

That's such an apt description of him.

One of.the most powerful voices in hip hop, literally and figuratively. One of the most immediately relatable rappers I can think of. Because we did look through his eyes, and saw what he saw.

Walk through my shoes, and hurt your feet?

Everyone can feel that.

If you had a hard life, if you were alone, you struggled within yourself, etc, and had It's Dark And Hell Is Hot in the Walkman?

That shit was a warm blanket. It was home. It was a dark and dank and gutter and grimey and straight up fucking human.

Feel the pain, feel the joy, of a man who was never a boy.

He crossed over. He hit the mainstream. But he spoke directly to certain people on this world. The very best MC's in hip hop, at least those I gravitate to, have a knack for wearing their heart on their sleeve and letting you into their world in an intimate way.

All at once, listening to X feels like dawning a cape and a suit of armor, because you're fighting your own demons right alongside him.

I'm glad he doesn't have to fight anymore.