5 Years After DMX’s Death, Jet Li Reveals the Side of the Rap Legend Fans Rarely Saw

Jet Li is out doing the promo rounds for his new book, and in a recent interview, he took some time to remember his late co-star DMX. A little Hollywood nostalgia goes a long way, especially when it comes from one of the most legendary action stars on the planet. If you had any curiosity about what it was like behind the scenes on Romeo Must Die or Cradle 2 the Grave, Li's stories are definitely worth hearing — and they add a little human weirdness to the usual 'everyone got along great' script.

Memories from Set: Video Games & Vibes

So here’s the deal — Jet Li says making Romeo Must Die was as fun as it looked, which probably isn’t the industry norm. According to him, the chemistry on set was legit: Aaliyah was 'very charming and pretty,' and the crew, including Anthony Anderson and DMX, just clicked. He doesn't sugarcoat it: 'Everybody in the film loved each other.' Not something you hear every day in showbiz reunion circles.

But of course, DMX stood out, and not just because of his music career. Here’s the part that’s a little odd, and kind of endearing: Li paints a picture of DMX staying a bit outside of the main hustle between takes — often off to the side, laser-focused on his video games. Literally, everyone would be ready to shoot, but DMX wasn’t moving until he finished his race in whatever car game had his attention that day. That’s not diva behavior; that’s just a guy vibing in his own universe.

'He was a very cool guy. His style, he really had something... We would be working, and DMX was on the side. I’d look at him, and he was playing a video game... He was like a boy, living in his own world. He was very unique.'

The fact that Li describes him as boyish rather than difficult says a lot. Honestly, if you could get away with playing video games on a film set back then, you might as well earn a reputation for being 'very unique.'

DMX's Dual Roles: Music Meets Movies

• In Romeo Must Die (2000), DMX played Silk — a smaller role but still memorable, mostly because anything DMX did was memorable at that time.
• In Cradle 2 the Grave (2003), he stepped up to the lead as Anthony Fait, acting alongside Jet Li for a full-blown action headliner.

Both movies doubled as showcases for DMX’s on-screen charisma and his popularity as a rapper (you probably have 'X Gon' Give It to Ya' stuck in your head already).

Closing Thoughts

DMX — real name Earl Simmons — was a star who blurred the line between tough guy and kid at heart, at least according to Jet Li. While DMX dealt with some tough health battles and sadly passed away from a heart attack in 2021 at only 50, he clearly left a strong impression on the people he worked with.

If you ever wondered what a Jet Li and DMX set looked like, just picture a lot of camaraderie, plenty of video game pit stops, and a chance to see a different side of a hip-hop legend before the director called 'action.'