Earl Simmons (born December 18, 1970), better known by his stage
name DMX, is an American rapper and actor who rose to fame in the
late 1990s. His stage name pays tribute to the Oberheim DMX drum
machine, an instrument he used when he made his own rap beats in
the 80's. To date, his best-selling album is his 1999 album ...And
Then There Was X, which featured the hit single "Party Up (Up
in Here)". In 2002, DMX wrote an autobiographical book titled
E.A.R.L.: The Autobiography of DMX.
In 1991, Gabriel Grevenstuk from The Source magazine praised him
in its "Unsigned Hype" column, which highlighted unsigned
hip-hop artists. Later, he was signed to the Columbia Records subsidiary
Ruffhouse in 1992; under that label he released his debut single "Born
Loser", which did not get much airplay. However, Ruffhouse promoted
many other artists on its roster rather than DMX and so agreed to
release him from his contract eventually. In 1994, he released a
second single, "Make a Move". In 1997, he made a successful
guest appearance on LL Cool J's "4, 3, 2, 1". Additional
guest spots on Mase's "24 Hours to Live" and "Take
What's Yours", and The LOX's "Money, Power & Respect" created
an even stronger buzz.[2] DMX also made a cameo appearance in the
Sum 41 music video for "Makes No Difference".[3]
In February 1998, he released his debut major-label single under
Def Jam Recordings, "Get At Me Dog", which was certified
gold by the RIAA. His first major-label album It's Dark and Hell
Is Hot, which included the single Ruff Ryders Anthem, was released
in May 1998 and debuted on the top spot on the Billboard 200 chart
in the U.S. It earned Simmons numerous comparisons to Tupac Shakur
and sold over four million copies. Soon after the release of the
album, DMX was nearly imprisoned for allegedly raping a stripper
in the Bronx but was cleared by DNA evidence.[2] Later that year
in December, DMX released his second album, Flesh of My Flesh, Blood
of My Blood. It entered the charts at number one (and stayed there
for 3 consecutive weeks) with 670,000 units shipped in the first
week alone. The album eventually went 4x platinum. DMX was the second
rapper to have two albums released in the same year debut at number
one on Billboard's Top 200, the first being Tupac Shakur.[2]
Simmons released his third album, ...And Then There Was X, on December
21, 1999. It debuted at number one on the pop charts, his third straight
album to do so. "Party Up" was his biggest single, and
became his first Top Ten hit on the R&B charts. His lead single
off the album, "What's My Name?" (containing the piano
prelude from Richard Addinsell's Warsaw Concerto), and third single "What
These Bitches Want" (featuring Sisqo) were also popular. .....And
Then There Was X is Simmons' best-selling album to date, going six
times platinum.[2]
After improving his legal situation, Simmons returned to the studio
and completed his fourth album, The Great Depression. Released October
3, 2001, it was his fourth straight album to debut at the top of
the Billboard 200. With hits such as "Who We Be", "We
Right Here", and the street track, "Shorty Was The Bomb".
The Great Depression quickly went triple platinum, but was not as
commercially or critically successful as his previous album.[2]
In 2004, Grand Champ became DMX's fifth straight album to debut
at number one. This made DMX the only artist in history to have 5
albums (and his entire album catalog) debut at #1 with hits "Where
Tha Hood At" and "Get it on the Floor" . After its
release, he informed the public that he planned to retire, and that
Grand Champ would be his final album.[4] In June 2003, DMX was arrested
for using indecent language during a performance at Saint Kitts and
Nevis. The country's Information Minister alleged that a contract
signed before the concert stipulated the show would be without indecent
language on stage. Simmons was released on bail ($376).[5]
In January 2006, DMX signed to Columbia Records, the label that
released his early single "Born Loser".[6] DMX recorded
his next album while switching record labels, causing numerous delays.
The album was finally released on August 1, 2006 under the title
Year of the Dog...Again. It missed the number one spot in the charts
by only one hundred sales. He also appeared on a remix of Busta Rhymes' "Touch
It". Two more singles, "Lord Give Me A Sign" and "We
In Here", followed. The Definition of X: The Pick of the Litter
was DMX's greatest hits album, released on June 12, 2007.[2] Def
Jam also released a new compilation album entitled The Best of DMX
[7][8] which features hit singles including "Where the Hood
At?" and "X Gon' Give It to Ya".
DMX signed to Bodog Music in 2007 to release his seventh and eighth
studio albums on the same day, Walk with Me Now and You'll Fly with
Me Later.[9] X is planning to release both albums back-to-back. In
an Interview DMX Said He has 3 albums done. A hip hop Album, a gospel
album and a rock album. Summer 2011 DMX plans to drop the ninth studio
album. DMX also said the album's name was "X Is Back" or "The
Under Dog" however, now Its called The Undisputed Champ
[edit] Acting career
He first starred in the 1998 movie Belly. He has starred in Never
Die Alone, which was based on street novelist Donald Goines' book.
He is also set to star in three upcoming films. He was set to star
in Marble City, but was replaced by Ving Rhames.[10] He starred in
Carnivorous in 2009, starred in an action thriller called Last Hour
which was released at the end of 2008. Another movie he starred in
was Romeo Must Die co-starring next to Jet Li & Aaliyah. He also
had a reality show on BET called DMX: Soul of a Man. He will also
star in the 2009 Beast, the true sequel to Belly. He has finished
shooting an upcoming film with Kris Kristofferson titled Lords of
the Street, the release date has yet to be set. He can be seen starring
alongside Clifton Powell & Vivica A. Fox in a film titled Father
of Lies. In 2003 he starred in a movie called Cradle 2 the Grave,
as a criminal father trying to save his daughter. In 2001 he starred
in Exit Wounds as a thug Latrell Walker who uncovered a team of crooked
cops along with Steven Seagal who was transferred to the roughest
division in Detroit, division 15. For that movie DMX also covered
the song Ain't No Sunshine under the title "No Sunshine".[11]
The song was released as a single and peaked at #67 on the US R&B
Charts. A music video was produced featuring DMX performing the song
against clips from the film.
[edit] Personal life
DMX was born in Mount Vernon, New York, a city just north of New
York City. He was the only child of Joe Barker and Arnett Simmons.
DMX's mother was pregnant with him when she was 19 and had a daughter
two years previous with another man.[1] He was raised in the faith
of Jehovah's Witnesses.[12] He relocated early in his childhood to
neighboring Yonkers. He spent much time on the streets committing
crimes. However, he considered hip hop to be an escape from his hard
times, as he enjoyed beatboxing, turntablism, and eventually rapping.
He spent much of his adolescence in and out of jail.[2]
Since 1999, DMX has been married to Tashera Simmons.[13] They have
four children together.[14][15] On July 22, 2010, Tashera Simmons
said she was separating from DMX after 11 years of marriage, just
2 weeks after he was released from jail. DMX currently has 8 children,
4 of whom with Ex-wife Tashera Simmons and one with model Alli DiMartino.[16]
Maryland resident Monique Wayne claims her son's father is DMX.[17][18][19][20]
She has sued him repeatedly for defamation of character[21] and child
support. A final outcome is still pending.
[edit] Feuds
Ja Rule
DMX started off as friends with Ja Rule, as well as Jay-Z. They
were all part of a group at the time named Murder Inc. Records. (The
name was later used by Ja's producer Irv Gotti for his record label.)
They recorded songs under the name together. DMX and Jay-Z also guest
starred on Ja Rule's first album on the track "It's Murda." Eventually
Ja Rule's feuds with Busta Rhymes, Dr. Dre, and Eminem went away.
DMX and Ja Rule also recently ended their feud at VH1's 2009 Hip
Hop he got in a fight with Mike Tyson in 2006 Honors.[22]
[edit] Criminal record
In 1999, DMX joined rappers Jay-Z, Method Man, and Redman for Jay-Z's
Hard Knock Life tour. DMX was arrested on, but later cleared of,
charges of a stabbing at a tour stop in Boston, Massachusetts; he
was also cleared of an assault charge in his hometown of Yonkers.
However, in the summer of 1999, DMX and his wife were arrested and
charged with animal cruelty and possession of drugs and weapons after
his manager-uncle was accidentally shot at a hotel in New Jersey.[citation
needed] Eventually, DMX successfully plea-bargained his sentence
down to fines, probation, and community service. He was arrested
again in March 2000 for aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor
vehicle, speeding, failure to signal, driving without a license,
failure to notify the DMV of an address change, and possession of
marijuana on New York State Route 33 in Cheektowaga, New York, following
a concert in Buffalo, New York. His failure to appear at his subsequent
court date in Cheektowaga on March 21 led to the issue of a warrant
for his arrest. He later turned himself in, plead guilty to a reduced
charge of driving without a license, and was sentenced to 15 days
in jail and fined $400. Since beginning his life as a public figure,
DMX's multiple arrests have been for offenses including: animal cruelty,[23]
reckless driving,[24] unlicensed driving, drug possession,[25] and
identity falsification.[26] In 1999, when officers of the Fort Lee
Police Department executed a search of his home, DMX promptly surrendered
himself on weapons charges.[27] He has served some jail time—a
15-day sentence in 2000 for possession of marijuana[28] and another
in 2001 for driving without a license and possession of marijuana.
His appeal to reduce the 2001 sentence was denied; rather, he was
charged with assault for allegedly throwing objects at prison guards.
DMX entered rehab to treat his addiction to drugs in 2002.[29][30]
In June 2004, he was arrested at the John F. Kennedy International
Airport on charges of cocaine possession, criminal impersonation,
criminal possession of a weapon, criminal mischief, menacing, and
driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol while claiming to
be a federal agent and attempting to carjack a vehicle.[31] He was
given a conditional discharge on December 8, 2004, but plead guilty
on October 25, 2005, to violating parole.[32]
Mug shot of DMX taken in June 2008.
On November 18, 2005, DMX was sentenced to 70 days in jail for violating
his parole; the lateness charge added a 10-day extension to the original
60-day sentence.[33] DMX was released from jail for good behavior
early on December 30, 2005.[34]
On December 30, 2008, DMX had pleaded guilty to charges of drug
possession, theft, and animal cruelty and was sentenced to 90 days
in jail on January 31, 2009.[35][36] On May 22, 2009, DMX entered
a plea agreement/change of plea, pleading guilty to attempted aggravated
assault. DMX was released from jail early on July 6, 2010 after serving
four out of six months for violating drug probation.[37] On July
27, 2010, DMX turned himself in to Los Angeles Metropolitan Court
for a reckless driving charge he received in 2002, and was sent to
Jail for 90 days.[38][39] On November 19, 2010 DMX was again arrested
in Maricopa County, Arizona for allegedly violating his parole by
using drugs. He is now serving a full year term for the crime.[40]
On December 20, 2010, DMX was moved to Mental Health Unit of Arizona
State Prison.[41]
DMX claimed several times that he's innocent. [42]
[edit] Pastoral ministry
In 2009, DMX claimed he would pursue preaching but will also continue
to do music. He completed a Gospel album prior to his incarceration.
His beliefs were criticized since many of his albums use vulgarity,
violence as well as homophobic and anal slurs. According to MTV,
he semi-retired to study the Bible more, in an effort to give messages
behind the pulpit,[43] but has not done so yet.[citation needed]
[edit] Discography
Main article: DMX discography
Studio albums
* Unleashed & Unreleased (1996)
* It's Dark and Hell Is Hot (1997)
* Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood (1998)
* ...And Then There Was X (1999)
* The Great Depression (2001)
* Grand Champ (2003)
* Year of the Dog...Again (2006)
* Walk with Me Now (2011)
* You'll Fly with Me Later (2011)
* The Undisputed Champ (2012)
With the Ruff Ryders
* Ryde or Die Vol. 1 (1999)
* Ryde or Die Vol. 2 (2000)
* Ryde or Die Vol. 3 (2001)
* Vol. 4: The Redemption (2004)
* Ruff Ryders Evolution: Generation I[44] (TBA)
[edit] Filmography
* Belly(1998)
* Romeo Must Die (2000)
* Backstage (2000)
* Exit Wounds (2001)
* Cradle 2 the Grave (2003)
* Def Jam Vendetta (voice) (2003)
* Never Die Alone (2004)
* DMX: Soul of a Man (2006)
* Lords of the Street (2007)
* Last Hour (2007)
* Death Toll (2008)
* Lockjaw: Rise of the Kulev Serpent (2008)
* The Bleeding (2011)