DMX -- Poppin' Wheelies Days After Brutal ATV Crash

That didn't take long ... just days after DMX flipped his ATV and was hospitalized, he returned to the scene of the crash to finish what he started ... by popping some wheelies -- and TMZ got it all on tape.

X tells TMZ ... he felt COMPELLED to get back on his 4-wheeler just 4 days after he was released from the hospital ... despite suffering a major concussion and numerous stitches from his last ride.

X says, "S**t happens, you know what I mean. Hopefully it don't happen again ... but I am a Ruff Ryder."

It's clear from the footage (taken in front of X's South Carolina pad) ... X isn't scared to take that first joy-ride, saying "You gotta get back on that mother f-er ... try it again."