April 9, legendary rapper DMX passed away due to a cardiac arrest as a result of a drug overdose. His death created shockwaves throughout the rap world. This came as a surprise as DMX seemed to be in the middle of an apparent comeback. Rumors of album releases, stepping back into the public spotlight and his Verzuz TV hit battle against Snoop Dogg gave a lot of hope that after years of trials and tribulations, the legendary east coast rapper had finally reached a point in his life where his demons were laid to rest. Unfortunately, this is not what happened. Despite this, DMX’s career is almost unapparelled and will never be duplicated.
To truly examine the career of DMX, we must look on the upbringing he had.
DMX was raised in an extremely toxic household and was physically abused by his mother and her boyfriends. He got drunk at age seven at the encouragement of his aunt. He slept on the floor with mice surrounding him and someone he trusted in the rap game passed him a blunt laced with cocaine at age 15, getting him hooked on the drug. All of this caused him to act out and respond in violent ways. He was expelled at age ten from his elementary school. He tried to burn down the children’s home he was sent to and robbed and carjacked people in high school. Despite all of this, this is not a story of a criminal or a man who is trapped in an endless cycle, this is the story of a man who escaped the “personal hell” of his life and became one of the greatest rap artists of all time.
In 1992, at age 22, DMX was signed to an offshoot label of Columbia Records and quickly performed with artists such as Jay-Z, Ja Rule, The Lox and others. In 1998, after signing to Def Jam records, he released his debut album “It’s Dark and Hell is Hot” which debuted at number one on the Billboard Charts and featured the iconic track “Ruff Ryders’ Anthem.”
DMX went on to release two more albums in the next 18 months, both of which achieved multi-platinum success and resulted in him receiving Grammy nominations and getting mainstream notoriety and success. After the release of his 2003 album “Grand Champ,” DMX became the only artist in history to have five consecutive albums debut at number one on the Billboard charts. DMX announced his first retirement from music shortly thereafter, although it was short-lived.
Despite all this success, it was not met without its trials and tribulations. Throughout DMX’s initial success and throughout the rest of his time, he was in and out of rehab, had 15 children with nine different women, filed for bankruptcy, was charged with 14 counts of tax evasion, became a pastor and a born-again Christian and had his fair share of general legal problems.
Despite the success and, to speak frankly, absolute horror movie that was his life, the legacy of DMX cannot be understated.
Following the aftermath of the Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac’s death, DMX became the first true worldwide superstar following their death and provided the emotional rawness and vulnerability that was just not prevalent in the genre after Tupac and Biggie’s deaths. In a rap scene that still has artists from the time such as Ice Cube, Jay-Z, Nas and Dr. Dre amongst others, DMX was the one who stood out as the guy in rap.
He was the main driving force behind the late 90s rap scene. His performance at the 1999 Woodstock festival is one of the most iconic rap performances that the genre has ever seen and has become legendary. Some of his tracks such as “X Gon’ Give It to Ya,” “Ruff Ryders’ Anthem” and “Where the Hood At” have achieved timeless status and to this day are still features in movies and television.
DMX’s life and story are an amazing and tragic one. He is a man who escaped the terrible life that he had led to become one of the most iconic and successful figures that rap had ever seen, only to be brought down by the demons he couldn’t escape, no matter how hard he tried. Despite this, his story is not a cautionary tale. It shouldn’t even be a sad one. It should be of a man who fought through hell and back to make something of himself and succeeded. Maybe he shouldn’t be a role model, but the story of his success is an inspiration, and nothing can ever take away the impact he had and the roll he had in making the genre what it is today. Rest in Peace Earl “DMX” Simmons. Dec. 18, 1970 – April 9, 2021. Gone, but never forgotten.
Teren Kowatsch can be reached at [email protected]