DMX (1970 - 2021)

DMX, the New York-based rapper who found fame and success in the '90's, has sadly passed away on April 9th from complications of a heart attack, possibly triggered from a drug overdose days before. It had been well documented of the artist's struggle with substance abuse and involvement with criminal activity throughout much of his career. But DMX was a bold and thrilling voice in hip-hop who used his complicated life experiences as inspiration for his evocative music.

He was born Earl Simmons in Mount Vernon, New York and raised in nearby Younkers. He had a difficult and painful childhood. With his father abandoning the family shortly after his birth, Simmons would suffer from physical and emotional abuse from his mother as a child. It got so bad that he preferred to live on the streets than deal with his life at home. His mother sent him to a boy's home as a teenager and this was when Simmons began his interest in hip-hop and creating music. He came up his future name, "DMX" from the type of drum machine he used at the home.

After spending time in and out of prison for petty theft as a young man, DMX decided to seriously focus on music. He began producing and selling his own mixtapes which helped him build a local fan base around New York. This lead to DMX getting the opportunity to made a few guest appearances on records by established artists like Mase and LL Cool J. All of this buzz helped get him signed to Def Jam Records and with his debut album, "It's Dark and Hell Is Hot" in 1998, DMX became an immediate sensation. The album went to number one on the Billboard 200 Album chart and sold over four million copies with his second album, "Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood", released later that year, repeating this success.

DMX's third album, "... And Then There Was X" in 1999 would become the best-selling release of his career (at five million copies) with the single, "Party Up (Up in Here)", reaching the top-ten on the US R&B chart and would be nominated for Grammys for Best Rap Album and Best Rap Solo Performance. During this time, Hollywood came calling with DMX making his acting debut in music-video director, Hype Williams' first feature film, "Belly" in 1998. He would go on to appear in the movies, "Romeo Must Die", "Exit Wounds" and "Cradle 2 The Grave" along with several television series and reality programs.

But also during his rise in popularity, DMX's difficulties from his troubled past would begin to resurface, creating problems for him with the law. He would face multiple arrests for various charges including animal cruelty, reckless driving, outstanding child support, tax fraud, robbery and drug possession. This would largely distract him from making his art but he still would manage to occasionally produce music. DMX's last release was back in 2015 with "Redemption of the Beast" but he would disavow the album due to disagreements with the record label. 

In 2019, it was revealed that DMX was refocused on his career, having resigned with his former label, Def Jam and working on new music. With the pandemic certainly delaying his plans, it is not only the tragic loss of a gifted talent but also the potential possibilities for his future.