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Mr. Earl Simmons is better known by his stage name DMX. He was also known as Dark Man X. He was an American rapper, songwriter and a movie actor. He was also a Grammy-nominated rapper and actor who rose to fame in the late 1990s. Mainly, he was one of the most influential and controversial rappers in the history of the music industry.

Real name - Earl Simmons

Screen name - DMX

Born - December 18, 1970

Died - April 9, 2021

Height - 5 foot 10 inches (5'10")

Status - Married

Parents - Joe Baker (father) and Arnett Simmons (mother)

Siblings - Not revealed to the public yet

Children - Praise Mary Ella Simmons (daughter), Xavier Simmons (son), Sonovah Junior (daughter), Tocoma Simmons (son), Aidyn Simmons + K'dyn Simmons (twin sons), Shawn Simmons (son). The remaining 10 children haven't been made public yet. In total, he fathered 17 children from 11 different women but married only one of them.

Childhood

DMX was born as Earl Simmons on December 18th of the year 1970 and was raised in the city of Mount Vernon (New York, USA). He was the second of four children. His mother, Arnett Simmons, was a drug addict and used to harm him most of the times. His father, Joe Barker, was a painting artist but was a violent alcoholic too. Even he’d abuse him badly as a kid. He remained largely absent from the life on DMX. DMX was eventually raised by his grandmother named Mary Ella Holloway.

He grew up in a rough neighbourhood. He was raised in the infamous School Street projects and claimed the streets of Yonkers as his home. He had a difficult childhood marked by abuse and neglect. At an early age, he began wandering the streets of Yonkers to escape his mother's abuse and eventually began to take drugs and commit crimes.

Also at a very young age, he took to rapping and quickly gained a reputation for his raw talent and intense energy. He began rapping as a teenager and his talent quickly earned him a reputation on the New York underground hip-hop scene. He was expelled from school at the age of 14 and he began consuming alcohol and using drugs at such young age. He was also arrested several times for petty crimes in his teens. He began living on the streets eventually. He also spent time in juvenile detention and prison.

In 1986, Simmons was arrested for the first time, in connection with drug possession and then sent to prison. While in prison, he befriended another rapper named K-Solo, who encouraged him to take rap more seriously after witnessing his talent for the genre. Upon his release, Simmons met a local rapper named Ready Ron and the two of them formed the group 'K-Solo Presents: The Warlocks'.

Personal life

DMX had a very unsettling personal life. He struggled very much with beating his drug addiction habits and violence all through his life. He was heavily addicted to drugs and alcohol and he had several run-ins with the law. He was arrested numerous times for assault, animal cruelty, bad driving and drug possession. He had a history of domestic violence too. He struggled with his addiction to narcotics and faced legal problems throughout his career. In 2010, he was sentenced to one year in prison for violating his parole. He had to file for bankruptcy in the year 2013.

DMX was married three times. He had four children with his first wife named Tashera Simmons. He had one child with his second wife named Desiree Lindstrom. He had one child with his third on-and-off girlfriend named Yadira Borrego. DMX was married twice and had four children from those marriages. He was a father of 17 children. His daughter named Praise Mary Ella Simmons is his only famous child while the rest have managed to remain off the public eye. He was a loving father and his children were his biggest source of inspiration. DMX's death was a major loss for his family and friends. He will be remembered as a talented rapper, a loving father and a deeply troubled man.

DMX and wife Tashera Simmons

As a kid, he was raised as a Jehovah’s Witness but he soon fell out of faith. He didn’t want to follow the religion any more, citing a need for clarity about things. However, DMX became a deeply religious man towards the end of his life. When he was incarcerated once, he became a born-again Christian and decided to turn his life around for his new-found path. He stated that he’d read the Bible every day and that this religion gave him a greater purpose in life. He’d often mention about his faith in his music. He even put out few gospel songs for a while. 'Lord, give me a sign!' is his most famous gospel song among the others.

In his own words...

"I came here to meet somebody...don't know who it was, but I'll know when I see him. And I came here to give him a message. And that message is Jesus loves them".

He had a chance to give a sermon at a church in the city of Phoenix (Arizona, USA) in the year 2016, which he did. Although, he wanted to become a fully-ordained Pastor, he couldn’t reach that aim in his lifetime. He remained a transitional Deacon up until his sudden passing away.

Musical career

Despite his troubled upbringing, Simmons found his solace in music. He was influenced by the hip hop artists of the early 1980s such as LL Cool J, Run-DMC and Public Enemy. He entered the rapping scene in the early 1990s and started putting his incredible talents to good work. He quickly became one of the most popular and influential rappers of his generation.

In the year 1985 when he was aged just 14, he commenced his career in music. After completing his incarceration around that time, he began composing and creating his own songs. He would be performing his songs locally around where he lived. He was again imprisoned in the year 1988. With a lot of free time behind bars now, he became vested in the hobby of making songs. He was writing his own lyrics and had met with a rapper named K-Solo too. In the year 1988, he formed the rap group 'The Warlocks' with his friends. The group released an album named 'It's Dark and Hell Is Hot' in the year 1991.

He got signed with Def Jam Records in February 1998, through whom he had released his debut album titled It's Dark and Hell Is Hot. The album was a critical and a massive commercial success. It instantly sold over 250,000 copies in it's first week of release itself! DMX's musical breakthrough came with the release of this debut album. It quickly shot up to number 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. It was a certified triple platinum by the RIAA. The album gave us the hit singles like 'Get At Me Dog' and 'X Gon' Give It to Ya'.

DMX followed up his debut album with a string of successful ones. He released his second album 'Flesh Of My Flesh, Blood Of My Blood' in the year 1998. The album was also a mega hit and a big commercial success. It also reached number 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. It was certified quadruple platinum by the RIAA. The album had the hit singles like 'How's It Goin' Down' and 'Slippin''. DMX put out his third album 'The Great Depression' in the year 2001. The album was a critical and commercial success like his previous albums. The Great Depression reached number 1 on the Billboard 200 chart too. It was certified a triple platinum by the RIAA. The album gave us the hit singles like 'What's My Name?' and 'Party Up (Up in Here)'.

DMX continued to release successful albums throughout the 2000s. He released four more albums: The Definition of X (2000), Grand Champ (2003), Year of the Dog...Again (2006) and Darkness on the Edge of Town (2007). All of these albums were certified platinum or multi-platinum by the RIAA and they stayed on top of the charts for a long while.

But his career declined in the mid-2000s due to his many battles against drug addiction and legal cases. However, he made a comeback in the year 2012 with a release of the album 'Undisputed'. The album was a critical and commercial hit. It was well-accepted by the audience and fans. It helped him to re-establish himself as a comeback or a force in hip-hop. Things appeared hopeful for the struggling rap star.

DMX (far left) with Jay Z (middle) and Ja Rule (far right)

He was able to put out 7 studio albums in total. He also released several compilation albums and mix-tapes. All of his albums were certified platinum or multi-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). His songs were Billboard toppers nevertheless. He was nominated for 3 Grammy Awards and won a Billboard Music Award for Top Rap Male Artist in the year 2000. He was also inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame in the year 2017. His eighth album titled 'Exodus' was posthumously released on May 28, 2021 via Def Jam Records.

A career in movies

With his celebrity looks, ripped build and success, he had Hollywood coming his way. He was cast in few major roles of Hollywood movies. DMX had a successful acting career too because he was a good actor. He appeared in movies such as 'Romeo Must Die' (2000), 'Exit Wounds' (2001), 'Cradle 2 The Grave' (2003) and 'Last Hour' (2008). These were all action movies. He was also a voice actor and he voiced the character of the Trickster in the animated film 'Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island' (1998).

These were just some of his popular movies. He went to star in many other movies and a TV show on himself. He was a charismatic and talented actor. He contributed an unique intensity to his roles. His movies went to become hits and be loved by the global audience.

Legal troubles

DMX’s career was marred by controversy. Although he was a great rapper and an actor, he has an extensive list of convictions. He had a history of drug abuse and multiple run-ins with the law since his teenage years. In his short life, he had been incarcerated over 30 times and hence served a lot of time behind bars. He was first jailed when he was only 16 years old in the year 1986. He had stolen someone’s dog back then. He and a fellow-inmate managed to jail break together. Upon returning home, he was forced to turn himself in again by his mother, which he did and went on to complete his sentence fully.

DMX completed the final sentence of his life and was released in the year 2019. He was convicted for tax fraud in the year 2017. He was initially set free (pending sentencing) but remanded later due to him relapsing back to drug addiction. A heavy fine of $2.3 million was imposed upon him as a restitution to the government. He was imprisoned in the years 1986, 1998, 2000, 2007, 2008, 2013, 2015 and 2017. Throughout his life, he was convicted and faced multiple prison time for the following crimes...

Animal cruelty
Assault
Carjacking
Driving Under the Influence (DUI)
Failure to pay child support
Impersonating a federal agent
Possession of drugs
Probation-violation
Reckless/dangerous driving
Robbery
Tax evasion
Unlicensed driving

A police mugshot of DMX during his incarceration

He underwent prison time in various US cities such as Metro NY, Arizona, California, South Carolina and New York. Despite his many personal problems, DMX remained a popular and hugely influential rapper. His fans loved his talent and were entertained thoroughly. People still overlook his criminal past because it seems unfortunate and a matter of his mental health conditions.

Death

He had stated that he first developed an addiction to drugs during his teenage years. He was only 14 when smoked his first one. Ever since, he couldn’t seem to put off the habit or overcome the lure. But prior to developing a drug addiction, he was already born with a breathing issue. He had constantly suffered very intensely from a bronchial asthma. It’d cause him to wake up in the middle of the night with breathing difficulties while sleeping. He would become breathless suddenly due to the asthma attacks and they had to rush him to a hospital every time it happened.

But the main problem which affected his health was his addiction to drugs and substance abuse. He underwent drug rehabilitation in 3 years but he always seemed to relapse despite all the efforts. He had cancelled concerts in the years 2002, 2017 and 2019 in order to attend drug rehabilitation programmes several times. In the year 2013, he would suffer a heart attack and be hospitalized for several weeks.

Then in February of 2016, he was found unresponsive at a parking lot of the hotel Ramada Inn (New York) due to a substance consumption. He was resuscitated by the first responders and intravenously revived with an opioid-reversal drug. But he went on to claim that he had an asthma attack. He’d deny the claim of a witness who saw him collapse after consuming a substance.

DMX in 2006

On April 2nd of the year 2021, he overdosed from drugs at home and suffered a heart attack. He was immediately rushed to White Plains Hospital (New York) and was declared to be in a critical condition by the hospital. Things only went downhill for him from there. The next day, he was on life support system due to worsening complications from the overdose and heart attack. That same evening, he lapsed into cerebral hypoxia as the medical team attempted resuscitations on him for atleast 30 minutes. His brain and lungs had failed by then, which rendered him in a condition of vegetative state. He remained comatose for the next couple of days without responding any much to the treatments.

He was to undergo several tests during these days concerning his brain’s activities, so that the family could decide on what to do with the results. By the morning of April 9th, all his essential organs began to cease functioning as well. His liver, lungs and kidneys were totally done for. Shortly after these happened, he was pronounced as having passed away. Tragically, he had passed away at the age of only 50 years old. On July of 2021, it was officially stated that his death occurred from a drug-induced heart attack.

His death was a major loss for the hip-hop community and he is still being mourned by fans from around the world even after 2 years. If we enquire of those who were exposed to his music and loved them, they’d voice an opinion of tragedy regarding his death. His sudden and unfortunate passing away was a big shock because it was unexpected and he was still young. Just when he had seemed to be overcoming the odds and recovering in life, he had passed away. He is a respected and popular figure, despite his list of legal problems. His life remains a great lesson about the human cost of fame, drug addictions and abiding the law. His music has inspired many people from many countries. His legacy will continue to live on for many years to come and will never cease.

DMX’s impact on hip-hop

DMX was a talented rapper and actor who had a profound impact on hip hop culture. He is a pioneer in the hip-hop genre and holds his place among the elites. He is a legend in the hip-hop scene. DMX was one of the most influential rappers of all time. DMX broke as well as set several records in the music industry. He helped to define the sound of East Coast hip-hop in the late 1990s and early 2000s. His aggressive and often violent lyrics helped to change the course of the rap genre. DMX was also a major crossover star and his music appealed to fans of all races and backgrounds. He has fans from everywhere in the world.

DMX's impact on hip-hop can be seen in the work of many of today's top rappers. His influence can be heard in the music of artists like Jay-Z, Kanye West and Lil Wayne. Rappers across the world might mention of an influence from him. DMX was a true original and his music will continue to inspire and influence rappers for years to come.

His music style

DMX was known for his aggressive and often violent lyrics, which often dealt with themes of poverty, drug addiction, redemption and violence. He popularised aggressive style of rapping, dark gritty lyrics and a very distinctive vocal delivery. He was also known for his energetic live performances, which often included crowd surfing and stage diving. He was a unique and original artist who broke the mould of what a rapper could be. While artists like Puff Daddy was popular at his time, he achieved huge success with his rugged and less marketable style. It’s like he snatched the reins off of high budget artists of his time.

DMX had a troubled personal life that included drug addiction, legal problems and financial difficulties. But he never gave up on his dreams. He was a true inspiration to many people. Simmons's music will continue to be enjoyed by fans for years to come. He will be remembered for his raw talent, his dark lyrics and his troubled personal life.

Legacy of DMX

DMX’s legacy is very complex and multifaceted. He was a talented rapper who made a significant impact on the hip-hop world. He was a brilliant rapper with raw talent that was unmatched by many of his peers. DMX was a true original, and his music will continue to inspire and entertain fans for years to come. DMX was a pioneer in hip-hop and his music helped to change the course of the genre. Simmons was a controversial figure but he was also one of the most talented and influential rappers of all time. His music spoke to the pain and struggles of the inner city, and his live performances were legendary. He will be remembered as one of the greatest rappers of his generation. DMX was a ground-breaking rapper who helped to define the sound of hip hop in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He made some of the most memorable music in those 2 decades.

He was known for his aggressive style of rapping, dark gritty lyrics and his distinctive vocal delivery. He was known for raw energy and intense delivery. He was also a gifted songwriter and his lyrics often dealt with themes of violence, redemption, and faith. DMX was also a successful actor. He had appeared in several movies. He was a complex and troubled figure, but he was also a talented artist who left a lasting legacy on hip hop. Simmons' music has inspired generations of rappers and his lyrics are still relevant today. He was a pioneer of the hardcore rap genre and his music helped to bring attention to the problems of poverty, violence and drug abuse in the inner city.

A 'DMX Shrine' installed by his fans outside the White Plains Hospital (NY), where he died

However, he was also a troubled man who toiled with drug addiction and violence. But through it all, he remained a charismatic and compelling artist who connected with fans on a deep level. His death is a reminder of the human cost of fame and the importance of mental health. But, he was also a kind and generous soul who was always willing to help others.

Even though DMX's life was a rollercoaster ride, he never gave up on his dreams. He was a survivor and he fought for what he believed in. He will be forever remembered as a legend in the game. His music will continue to inspire people for years to come. He was a true original and his legacy will live on for many years to come. His legacy will live on for generations to come.

Conclusion

DMX was a talented rapper who had a major impact on the hip hop community. He became famous for his aggressive rapping style and his dark (often violent) lyrics. He was also known for his troubled personal life, which included drug addiction, legal problems and financial turmoil. Despite his personal struggles, DMX remains a popular and respected figure in the hip hop community. Here are a brief summary about Earl Simmons aka DMX...

He was born into a poor family and raised in a violent neighbourhood.
He was abused by his mother and stepfather as a kid.
He dropped out of high school at the age of 14.
He was addicted to drugs and alcohol for many years.
He was arrested over 30 times for various crimes.
He was married 3 times and had 17 children.
He was raised as a Jehovah’s Witness but turned into a Christian later in life.
He died of a heart attack in the year 2021.
DMX was born with breathing issues and a heart defect, which led to him having several heart attacks.
DMX was a devout Christian and he often spoke about his faith in his music and interviews.
DMX was a vocal advocate for animal rights and he often donated money to animal shelters.
DMX was a close friend of the late rapper Tupac Shakur.
DMX was the subject of the 2006 documentary "DMX: Behind the Music".
DMX was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2023.
His style inspired the genesis of horrorcore genre.

Signature of DMX

Hope you enjoyed reading about the legendary rapper DMX. What are your first memories of DMX? Did you grow up in his generation or are you a new gen who hasn’t heard much of his music? Do you look up to DMX for a role model? What are your thoughts on a person who lived as a good and bad human simultaneously? Which is your favourite DMX song? Why do you like it? Are you a fan or critic of DMX? How do you feel about his untimely passing? What is your message to the world about drug addiction and mental health? Are you a professional in any such area and could you have saved DMX’s life with your expertise? Do post your valuable comments below.

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