DMX (rapper)
Earl Simmons (born
December 18,
1970), also known as
DMX (
Dark Man X), is an
African American rapper and
actor, who was most famous in the late-
1990s.
His often-dark subject matter and his gruff, barked rhymes were acclaimed by fans and critics alike. He has crossed over genres, appealing to both
hardcore rap audiences, as well as
metal,
R&B and
rock music fans.
Earl Simmons was the second of three children of a single mother, and was born in
Baltimore,
Maryland[Born in Baltimore]. Simmons ended up growing up in the School Street housing projects of
Yonkers, New York after encountering behavioral problems in
Mount Vernon. He began rapping around the age of 13, amusing crowds of kids with rhymes that relied on spelled-out words, a style he called "spellbound." A local rapper eventually asked the young Earl to
beatbox for him, and Simmons agreed, adapting the name
DMX from a synthesizer he often used. Eventually he decided to try his hand at serious rapping, and honed his skills during a stint at a group home. DMX is a fan of the
pit bull breed of dogs. He has a tattoo of one of his deceased dogs, "BOOMER" on his back. He later contributed over $1 million to the
United Negro Association for unfortunate black children in New York.
By high school, DMX had given up on his education and began robbing pedestrians regularly to get by. At this time he attended school with
Mary J. Blige at Yonkers High School. He also got into fights and frequently was on the run from police. During this period, he also began doing shows and battling other rappers, making a name for himself in the
New York area. He released his first album called "DMX: Unleashed and Unreleased" which was an instant hit on the streets of Yonkers.
He stated he wanted to be a
preacher when he retires from his rapping career as he stated in his reality TV Show DMX : Soul Of A Man.
In and out of jail, DMX decided to focus solely on his rap career. He began seriously looking for a deal and linked up with
Pete McCormick Schaub, an A&R for
Small Island at the time. Eventually, he signed a management deal with
Ruff Ryders. They negotiated deals with both
Bad Boy and
Death Row Records, but he eventually landed at
Def Jam. He is currently at
Sony BMG, set to release his first of three albums on August 1st 2006.
Before
It's Dark and Hell is Hot, DMX released the single "Born Loser" which was banned on
MTV due to the video's graphic images. DMX's debut single was "Get At Me Dog", which was an instant hit. His critically-acclaimed debut album,
It's Dark and Hell Is Hot, is often credited with revitalizing
Hardcore Rap in the mainstream scene, after the deaths of
Tupac Shakur, and after
Puff Daddy and
Bad Boy Entertainment briefly dominated the charts with their pop-oriented and sample-reliant tunes.
In
1997, DMX earned a second major-label shot with
Def Jam, and made a successful guest appearance on
LL Cool J's "4, 3, 2, 1." Additional guest spots on
Ma$e's "24 Hours to Live" and fellow
Yonkers MCs the
The LOX's "
Money, Power, & Respect" created an even stronger buzz, and in early
1998, he released his debut Def Jam single, "Get At Me Dog." The song went
gold and was a hit on the rap and dance charts. The single paved the way for DMX to release his first full-length album,
It's Dark and Hell Is Hot, which debuted as number one on the pop charts.
Produced mostly by
Damon "Dame Grease" Blackman, (
Swizz Beatz produced the "Ruff Ryder's Anthem", paving the way for future projects between the two).
It's Dark and Hell Is Hot earned
DMX numerous comparisons to
Tupac Shakur for his booming and aggressive presence on the mic. The album went on to sell over four million copies and earned him credit for revitalizing
Hardcore Rap after the deaths of
Tupac Shakur and
The Notorious B.I.G.. Shortly after the album's release in May
1998, DMX was accused of raping a stripper in the
Bronx, but was later cleared by
DNA evidence. He made his film debut together with
Nas and
Method Man in
Hype Williams' mildly successful film
Belly. Although not a critical success, the film found a strong following with
hip hop audiences.
DMX completed his second album before the end of
1998, and a pending buyout of
Def Jam pushed the record into stores
December 15.
Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood entered the charts at number one and eventually went triple platinum. The cover photo of the rapper covered in pig's blood caused some controversy. The single "Slippin'" became his first chart hit in the UK. DMX hit the road with
Jay-Z and the
Method Man/
Redman team on the blockbuster Hard Knock Life tour the following year. He had an song called "Jack Moves" with the legendary rap group
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, but the song came not on the album.
A warrant for his arrest was issued in connection with a stabbing during a tour stop in
Denver, of which he was later cleared. He was accused of assaulting a
Yonkers man who'd allegedly harassed his wife in May (the charges were once again dropped). More serious charges were brought that summer, when DMX's uncle/manager was accidentally shot in the foot at a
New Jersey hotel. DMX's home was raided by police, and they filed animal cruelty, weapons, and drug possession charges against the rapper and his wife. He eventually reached a plea bargain, receiving only fines, probation and community service.
DMX released his third album on
December 21,
1999,
...And Then There Was X, which was his third straight album to debut at number one. "Party Up (Up in Here)" was his biggest single since "Get at Me Dog" which became his first Top Ten hit on the R&B charts. His next singles off the album, "What's My Name?" & "What These Bitches Want" ft. Sisqo were also popular.
...And Then There Was X is the rapper's best-selling album to date, going 6x platinum.
After resolving his legal problems, DMX returned to the studio and completed his fourth album,
The Great Depression. Released
October 3,
2001, it was DMX's fourth straight album to debut at number one. The album demonstrated his still strong allegiance with the Ruff Ryders.
The Great Depression went platinum quickly, but lacked the staying power of his previous releases.
Released in 2003,
Grand Champ was DMX's fifth straight album to debut at number one, extending DMX's position as the only artist in history to have 5 albums (his entire album catalog at that point) debut at #1. Fans and critics claimed disappointment with the album, most stating that it felt formulaic. After its release, DMX informed the public that he planned on retiring from the rap game and that
Grand Champ would be his final album. He later ended his brief retirement and announced his plans to record the album
Year of the Dog...Again.
Rumors that DMX had signed with
G-Unit were dispelled at a press conference DMX had on Friday,
January 13,
2006. DMX is signed to
Sony BMG under the
Columbia Records imprint.
DMX's first album to debut at #2. Released August 1st 2006,
Year of the Dog...Again had numerous problems due to DMX switching record labels, as well as numerous delays. The album's five predeccesors debuted at #1,while this album was put into second place by Now 22. The whole album was leaked, and some guests rumored to be involved include the members of
D-Block. In March,
2006 it was announced that the album had been renamed to "Year of the Dog, Again," from "Here We Go, Again." When DMX switched to
Sony,
Def Jam allowed him to keep all of the tracks he had created for the album. It was reported that most of the tracks were being reworked, with updated production, however the reworked album has also leaked. DMX has also appeared on Busta Rhymes's "Touch It (The Remix)". He has also released his new singles "Lord Give Me A Sign", and "We in Here", which are included in "Year of the Dog... Again."
DMX made his film debut in
Belly, co-starring fellow rappers
Method Man and
Nas. He returned to the big screen with a major supporting role with
Aaliyah and
Jet Li in
Romeo Must Die. Soon after DMX's release from jail, he starred in the
Steven Seagal action film
Exit Wounds, which opened at number one at the box office. DMX contributed the hit single "No Sunshine" to the soundtrack. He signed a multipicture deal with
Warner Bros. in the wake of
Exit Wounds' success. DMX worked with
Jet Li again in
Cradle 2 the Grave. It opened at number one upon its release in March
2003, and its DMX-heavy soundtrack debuted in the Top Ten. DMX also starred in
Never Die Alone, which was based on street novelist
Donald Goines' book. DMX is also set to star in 3 new upcoming films, one of which is the sequel to
Belly.
Belly is set to be released in the winter of 2006 with DMX and
Nas reprising their roles. He was set to star in
Marble City a thriller but was dropped and replaced by another actor. X has finished filming another action thriller called "The Last Hour" which should see a release around winter 2006. He also has a reality show on
BET, the show is named
*Actress Drew Sidora recorded a public service announcement for Deejay Ra's 'Hip-Hop Literacy' campaign, encouraging reading of DMX's autobiography
DMX has a
criminal history originating with an arrest in
1999 in
Teaneck, New Jersey, when police found a
pistol,
crack pipes, and 13 pit bulls on the premises of his home. He pleaded guilty to charges of
animal cruelty,
disorderly conduct and possession of drug
paraphernalia and was sentenced to make public service announcements for the
Humane Society.
In June of
2003, he was arrested for swearing during a concert before a crowd of about 3,000 in
St Kitts and Nevis in the Caribbean. The country's Infomation Minister alleged that a contract signed before the concert stipulated there would be no indecent language on stage. DMX was released on bail of Eastern Caribbean $1,000 (US $376). [
1]
In June of
2004, DMX and a friend were arrested in the parking lot of
Kennedy Airport in
New York for allegedly attempting to steal a car and impersonating a federal agent. Police questioned Simmons, who claimed to be a "special agent." However, agents were aware of his status as an entertainer and not an agent. DMX was taken to central lockup in
Queens and held on charges of attempted robbery, criminal impersonation and criminal mischief. He pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment in December and was sentenced to a conditional discharge. His driver's license was suspended for the incident and he had to forfeit his
1998 Ford Expedition.
In April of
2005, DMX was arrested in
The Bronx for driving with a suspended license after his car crashed into a police cruiser.
In October of
2005, DMX was sentenced to 60 days in prison after pleading guilty to two traffic violations while his license was suspended, one being the incident in April and the other involving driving his car at 104 near his
Westchester home on
Interstate 684.
In May of
2006, DMX was arrested at a London airport for causing a disturbance after he refused to put on a seat belt and became abusive on a flight from New York to London. He was released with a "caution," a
British law term for basically saying he has accepted responsibility and a record will be made of the incident. [
2]
DMX has had several outstanding issues with other artists in his career, some low-profile and some played out with help from the media and radio.
*
K-Solo, of
Erick Sermon's
Def Squad, was a rapper DMX battled in jail. When Solo was released, he had a respectable hit song wherein he used the "spellbound" style DMX claims to have invented. DMX responded in
1998, on
It's Dark and Hell is Hot. Solo did not reply until 2001. However, in a recent interview, DMX challenged the rapper (who is also a smalltime boxer) to a fight.A scene in the documentry
Beef had K-Solo taking a polygraph test answering questions about the "spellbound" style, but the results were not in favor of either of the two.
*
Kurupt, of the
Dogg Pound, accused DMX of sleeping with
Foxy Brown. The
beef was squashed at the encouragement of
Snoop Dogg.
*
Eminem and DMX were rumored to have sent subliminals at each other on a freestyle and DMX's
1999 hit "Party Up (Up in Here)" respectively. The two rappers later teamed up to record a track belittling
Ja Rule caled
Go To Sleep with
Obie Trice included on the
Cradle 2 The Grave soundtrack.
* The
LOX and DMX allegedly had some problems stemming from their time living in
Yonkers that was talked out in
2004. It is rumored a line on the song "Trina Moe", from
The Great Depression, was aimed at the trio. However in the same "recent interview" which saw DMX reigniting the beef with K-Solo, the artist also gave a shout out to
LOX and suggested that they collaborate on future work. Leaked versions of the upcoming DMX album are noted for featuring at least two tracks with prominent D-Block artists Jadakiss and Styles P.
* Contrary to popular belief, DMX and
Jay-Z were never on the
Murder Inc. record label. Murder Inc. was originally supposed to be a band, rather than a label, with Jay-Z, DMX, and Ja Rule as members. DMX accused former cohort
Ja Rule of getting rich from his style, teaming up with
Eminem,
50 Cent, and others to diss the label.
* DMX has a well publicized feud with Oprah. He has recorded several "diss" tracks aimed at the tycoon since she made comments in June 2006 referring to DMX's alleged addiction to crack cocaine. "Yo, I ain't down with that crack shit, Oprah's wack" Simmons said in a recent interview with the underground hip-hop zine "Streetz".
Albums
It's Dark and Hell Is HotFlesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood...And Then There Was XThe Great DepressionGrand ChampYear of the Dog...AgainSingles
*
Download sample of "Dogs for Life" from
1998's
Flesh Of My Flesh, Blood Of My Blood*
*
DMX official site*
AllHipHop Interview*
IGN Interview
