DMX
Earl Simmons was born on the 18th of December 1970, in Mount Vernon, New York. He grew up as the middle child of a family that included two daughters and two stillborn sons. His mother suffered from mental health issues and physically abused him during his childhood years. At age five, she sent him to live with relatives in Yonkers' School Street housing apartments. The young boy struggled with bronchial asthma while navigating this unstable environment. By age ten, he had been expelled from middle school due to behavioral issues stemming from his home life. He spent time in a group home before returning to Yonkers at fifteen. There, he slept inside empty storage bins and befriended stray dogs for companionship. Broke and hungry, he robbed students to buy food and clothing. He also purchased a leather collar and harness for his pet dog using stolen money. This period marked the beginning of his descent into carjacking and other criminal activities.
DMX began rapping in the late 1990s after working as a beatboxer for local rapper Ready Ron. He signed with Ruff Ryders Entertainment in May 1997 following an introduction by Irv Gotti. His debut album It's Dark and Hell Is Hot released in May 1998 sold 251,000 copies in its first week. The record debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart. A second album Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood followed in December 1998 and also reached the top spot. DMX became the only living rapper to have two consecutive number-one albums within seven months. His third release ...And Then There Was X arrived on the 21st of December 1999. That record went six-times Platinum and spawned the hit single Party Up (Up in Here). By the 9th of April 2021, when he died, he had sold over 75 million records worldwide. He was the first artist to have five consecutive studio albums debut atop the Billboard 200.
His music featured an aggressive vocal delivery that set him apart from contemporaries like Puff Daddy. While Bad Boy Records promoted big-budget videos and dancefloor-ready tracks, DMX offered a dark and rugged perspective. Critics noted his violent lyricism helped popularize the horrorcore genre during the late 1990s. Songs like Ruff Ryders' Anthem showcased his unique ability to switch between rapping and screaming. The Source magazine praised his unsigned hip-hop style early in his career. His lyrics often explored themes of struggle, faith, and street life. This approach resonated with audiences who felt disconnected from mainstream rap at the time. An Apple Music radio host described his energy as a complete 180-degree turn from what dominated clubs then. He brought a raw perspective that many listeners found unfamiliar yet compelling.
DMX appeared in commercially successful films such as Belly released in 1998 alongside rapper Nas. He starred in Romeo Must Die in 2000 and Cradle 2 the Grave in 2003 opposite Jet Li. Exit Wounds came out in 2001 featuring Steven Seagal. In 2006 he launched a reality television series titled DMX: Soul of a Man on BET. The show documented his personal struggles and recovery efforts. He also published a memoir called E.A.R.L.: The Autobiography of DMX in 2003. These ventures expanded his reach beyond music into broader entertainment markets. His film roles often mirrored his tough-guy persona established through his albums. Critics gave mixed reviews to some projects but acknowledged his screen presence. The combination of acting and music created a multifaceted career path for Simmons.
Simmons became a born-again Christian who read the Bible every day during his incarceration periods. He served as a transitional deacon and aspired to become an ordained pastor by 2009. A sermon delivered at a church in Phoenix, Arizona took place in 2016. He fathered fifteen children from nine different women throughout his life. His marriage to childhood friend Tashera Simmons lasted from 1999 until their divorce in 2014. They had four children together including Xavier born in 1992 and Praise Mary Ella born in 2005. Legal battles over child support payments reached into millions of dollars with disputes involving Patricia Trejo and Monique Wayne. Twin boys were born on the 5th of December 2019, making them his final two offspring. No will existed when he died leading to probate court proceedings among surviving family members.
On the 10th of February 2016, Simmons was found unresponsive in a parking lot at
a Ramada Inn in Yonkers, New York. Paramedics administered Narcan after he ingested a powdered substance that caused him to collapse. He suffered cerebral hypoxia following thirty minutes of resuscitation attempts. On the 2nd of April 2021, he experienced a heart attack possibly resulting from drug overdose at his home. Doctors placed him on life support while his condition deteriorated rapidly. Multiple essential organs failed including his liver kidneys and lungs by the morning of the 9th of April 2021. The Westchester County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed the official cause of death as a heart attack at age fifty. Posthumous releases included Exodus which arrived on the 28th of May 2021 through Def Jam Recordings.
A Celebration of Life event took place on the 24th of April 2021, led by Kanye West's Sunday Service Choir. The
memorial occurred at Barclays Center in Brooklyn with limited capacity for 1,900 attendees. His casket rode inside a black monster truck bearing the phrase Long live DMX painted on its side. Hundreds of motorcyclists formed a procession from Yonkers to the venue honoring the Ruff Ryders collective. A funeral service called DMX's Homegoing Celebration happened on the 25th of April 2021, at the Christian Cultural Center. It lasted approximately five hours and featured speeches from Nas Swizz Beatz and others. New York state Senate declared December 18 Earl Simmons Day in honor of his birthday. Tributes poured in from figures like LeBron James Shaquille O'Neal and Eminem via social media outlets. His legacy endures as one of hip-hop's most influential voices despite personal struggles.
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Common questions
When and where was Earl Simmons born?
Earl Simmons was born on the 18th of December 1970, in Mount Vernon, New York. He grew up as the middle child of a family that included two daughters and two stillborn sons.
What were the first week sales figures for DMX debut album It's Dark and Hell Is Hot?
DMX debut album It's Dark and Hell Is Hot sold 251,000 copies in its first week after releasing in May 1998. The record debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart.
How many children did DMX father throughout his life?
DMX fathered fifteen children from nine different women throughout his life. Twin boys were born on the 5th of December 2019, making them his final two offspring.
Where did DMX die and what caused his death?
DMX died on the 9th of April 2021 following multiple organ failure including his liver kidneys and lungs. The Westchester County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed the official cause of death as a heart attack at age fifty.
When was the Celebration of Life event held for DMX and where did it take place?
A Celebration of Life event took place on the 24th of April 2021 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn with limited capacity for 1,900 attendees. His casket rode inside a black monster truck bearing the phrase Long live DMX painted on its side.