Rapper DMX narrowly escaped injury at his show in California on Thursday night after an overzealous fan jumped onstage and attempted to place him in a headlock.

The hip-hop star was partway through his set at Cafe Sevilla in Long Beach when a mystery man in the audience evaded security.

In footage obtained by TMZ.com, the man can be seen jumping onstage and placing his arms around the rapper's neck before he's dragged away by bouncers.

The DJ briefly stopped the music before DMX ordered him to re-start, saying, "We don't stop the music for s**t!"