Pure Hip Hop

Legends Never die. Their bodies may leave this earth. But the example lives on forever. The inspiration lives on forever. The spirit lives on forever. The legacy lives on forever.

When the news broke last weekend that DMX had been hospitalized because of a heart attack, we thought that he would, again, pull through. He always had the power and the mental strength to bounce back when ever knocked down. 
We may have eventually lost him, but his courage to fight the good fight will forever live in our hearts. We will remember him for that brave and courageous life, his honesty, truth, and bravery, and for his powerful music that has touched the hearts of millions the world over..

Music Career

Earl Simmons, known by his stage name DMX the (Dark Man X,) was a New York rapper, songwriter, and actor. He began his rapping journey in the early 1990s and released his debut album ''It's Dark and Hell Is Hot'' in 1998.

DMX released eight studio albums, one mixtape, five compilation albums, two extended plays (EP), 46 singles (including 17 as a featured artist), and 24 music videos.

In June 2014, DMX became the fifth best-selling rapper of the Nielsen SoundScan era in the USA, with sales of 23.3 million albums. The rapper was no stranger to the Billboard charts, No. 1 position or sold-out concerts, like sadly he was no stranger to tough times and controversy..

DMX got his start in the hip hop world in 1984, when he beatboxed for Ready Ron. He starts writing his lyrics and performing at the local recreation institute for younger children.

While serving prison in 1988 for carjacking, he starts taking rapping more seriously, consecrating almost all of his free time to writing songs.

After release from prison, he builds a local fan base by selling his mixtapes where he rapped over instrumentals from other songs.

He released his debut single "Born Loser" in 1992 with Columbia Records under their subsidiary label Ruffhouse. After 2 years DMX released his second single, "Make a Move." In 1995 he was a guest alongside Jay-Z, Ja Rule, and Mic Geronimo on the epic underground track "Time to Build" on Mic Geronimo's debut album in 1995.

Dmx's first major-label album, ''It's Dark and Hell Is Hot'', which contains the single "Ruff Ryders Anthem", was released in May 1998. This album is considered a classis on which X unleashes his style and character. The record rocketed to number one on the Billboard 200 chart in the United States and sold more than five million copies.

In the same year, DMX released his second album, Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood. It also debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and went multi-platinum. In December 1999 he released his third and best-selling album ''And Then There Was X,'' Again, the album debut at number one on the Billboard 200.

The numbers alone are concrete proof that DMX had that rear ability to out sale the most squeaky clean commercial artist, with out compromising his raw, hardcore, real, persona. 

Acting Career

At the peak of his rap career, he decided to step into Hollywood — a move that resulted in him performing over 12 movie roles. His acting performances were amazing and worthy of praise so much.

His first role in Hollywood was in Belly (1998). Fans will remember his remarkable role as Tommy “Buns” Brown, a street criminal who makes his mark in the drug trade.
''Cradle two The Grave'', and ''Romeo Must Die'' also considered the best movies that displayed some of DMX's best Hollywood performances.

When talking about his career in Hollywood, we must mention his role as nightclub owner Silk on ''Romeo Must Die'' and his chemistry with the late Aaliyah. It's popular by the scene where DMX is heard saying, “Guns don't kill people. People kill people.”

Drug Struggles and Prison

DMX said in a documentary series broadcast on BET that, when he was 14, Ready Ron tricked him into smoking a marijuana cigarette laced with the cocaine. "He created a monster. Cocaine almost took my life on a few occasions," He said.

In February 2016, Simmons was found unresponsive in a Ramada Inn parking lot in Yonkers, New York. He was revived by first responders and given Narcan before being
moved quickly to the hospital.

On April 2, 2021, DMX was rushed to a hospital in White Plains, New York, where he was announced to be in critical condition following a heart attack at his house possibly resulting from a drug overdose. By 7 days after, Simmons had reportedly lost functionality of multiple organs, including his lungs, liver and kidneys. The Dark Man X was declared dead later that day, aged 50.

Exceptional Artist. Exceptional Person

Dmx is the rapper who has the most kids. He was the father of 15 children from nine different women. His first child is ''Xavier'' (born 1993.) from his childhood friend Tashera Simmons. His last son ''Exodus Simmons'', was born to his fiancé, Desiree Lindstrom, on August 16, 2016.

DMX mastered befriending stray dogs, developing a powerful bond with his canine friends, and later having his former pet, Boomer, tattooed on his back after the dog was struck by a car and killed. He often used dog imagery in his lyrics, as heard in his first hit single Get At Me Dog in 1998.

The DARK MAN X was more than a neatly curated artist for whom style masked a lack of substance. His lyrics switched between pained soul-searching spirituality and the very real and present dangers of hard and unjust life on the streets.

Another hip hop icon has passed away, another legend, another great. DMX is an eternal icon in our hearts like, Nipsy Hussle, Big Pun, Big L, Biggy, and, 2 Pac Shakur, we will never forget their spirit and their legacy.