DMX‘s memory will live on thanks to an upcoming auction … GottaHaveRockandRoll is unleashing a one-stop shut’em down, open-up shop full of the late Ruff Ryders rapper’s earliest moments en route to becoming a hip-hop legend!!!

The treasure trove of DMX goodies features over 30 mind-blowing lots of rap relics and focuses on his rise to fame between 1992-1994 … and is expected to fetch $20,000-$40,000!!!

GottaHaveRockandRoll President Dylan Kosinski tells TMZ Hip Hop that one of DMX’s earliest close music industry pals provided the artifacts to the auction house … there’s even a poster when he opened for Wu-Tang Clan in 1994!!!

The cassettes are being sold as artifacts … same with the VHS tapes. He recorded everything himself, took the footage himself, owned all the equipment, and will get the proceeds from the auction.

X became a massive success in 1998 — making history by releasing 2 albums to hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in the same year … and the collection boasts hours of unreleased music that shows how he honed his skills.

There are 4 separate cassettes filled with unheard gems such as freestyles and diss tracks and each tape is estimated to sell for more than $10,000.

Handwritten lyrics from DMX’s 1993 debut single “Born Loser,” a music video of an unreleased track, early in-studio sessions, and concert posters are also included.

The lyrics rattle off some of his hip-hop influences at the time … N.W.A, Ice-T, Queen Latifah, Ice Cube, Naughty By Nature … years before he would become their artistic equal.

Still, Tashera tells us the family understands the zeal for anything X created … he was a soulful genius.