DMX claims he finally conquered coke addiction

According to TMZ, DMX claims he has finally kicked the drug addictions that kept him behind bars for years -- and he has his children to thank.

DMX says, coke was his greatest demon after his latest prison release in July -- "Everyone was taking advantage of him with his finances, trying to put him in the direction to fail. I have 10 kids. I have to drive them in the right direction, so I let the cocaine go. he says".

The rapper -- real name Earl Simmons -- says God also helped him through ... saying, "I am on a spiritual road to do right in my life. I am leaving out all negativity and going to stay on the right road to positive." DMX's pastor confirms, "When [DMX] first came to my church he looked broken, sad, and full of struggle. Now you see a dramatic change. You see that the drugs and alcohol aren’t in his life."

Well, Guy ain't joking -- DMX absolutely killed it at the BET awards this week