01of 12DMX’s Early YearsDMX/InstagramBorn Earl Simmons on Dec. 18, 1970, DMX endured a rough childhood that included bouts of illness and time away from his family’s Yonkers, New York, home, due tothe abuse he sufferedat the hands of his mother’s partners.
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DMX’s Early Years
DMX/Instagram
Born Earl Simmons on Dec. 18, 1970, DMX endured a rough childhood that included bouts of illness and time away from his family’s Yonkers, New York, home, due tothe abuse he sufferedat the hands of his mother’s partners.
02of 12DMX in the ‘90sDMX.Mitchell Gerber/Corbis/VCG via GettyThe rapper discovered hip-hop in his early years and rose to fame in the ’90s.His 1998 single"Get at Me Dog" went gold, and his albumIt’s Dark and Hell Is Hot— which featured “Ruff Ryders’ Anthem” — sold upwards of 5 million copies and debuted at No. 1 on theBillboard200. His next album,Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Bloodalso debuted at No. 1, and eventually went multi-platinum.He struck gold again in 1999 with the release of his album…And Then There Was X,which featured the mega-hit single “Party Up (Up in Here),” his first Top 10 hit on the R&B charts.
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DMX in the ’90s
DMX.Mitchell Gerber/Corbis/VCG via Getty
The rapper discovered hip-hop in his early years and rose to fame in the ’90s.His 1998 single"Get at Me Dog" went gold, and his albumIt’s Dark and Hell Is Hot— which featured “Ruff Ryders' Anthem” — sold upwards of 5 million copies and debuted at No. 1 on theBillboard200. His next album,Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Bloodalso debuted at No. 1, and eventually went multi-platinum.
He struck gold again in 1999 with the release of his album…And Then There Was X,which featured the mega-hit single “Party Up (Up in Here),” his first Top 10 hit on the R&B charts.
03of 12DMX and Lil' KimShareif Ziyadat/WireImageDMX’s appearance on The Lox’s 1998 “Money, Power & Respect” introduced him to fellow collaborator Lil' Kim, with whom he reconnected at the Bad Boy Family Reunion Tour in New Jersey in 2016.
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DMX and Lil' Kim
Shareif Ziyadat/WireImage
DMX’s appearance on The Lox’s 1998 “Money, Power & Respect” introduced him to fellow collaborator Lil' Kim, with whom he reconnected at the Bad Boy Family Reunion Tour in New Jersey in 2016.
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DMX in Murder Inc.
In the mid-’90s, DMX was briefly part of the supergroup Murder Inc. with Ja Rule and JAY-Z, and appeared on some of the rappers' singles around that time. Eventually, he fell out with both men.
“They always had friction because they battled and X, like, hated him,” Gotti said. “Jay didn’t really give a f— but they was always on some competitive s—. That’s just the truth.”
DMX put out a 2002 diss track about Ja Rule, who never responded, though the two were reportedly at odds until the 2009 VH1 Hip Hop Honors,where they reunited.
05of 12DMX and TasheraEvan Agostini/GettyIn 1999, DMX married childhood friend Tashera; they were together 11 years before divorcing in 2010.
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DMX and Tashera
Evan Agostini/Getty
In 1999, DMX married childhood friend Tashera; they were together 11 years before divorcing in 2010.
06of 12DMX’s FamilyRichard Corkery/NY Daily News Archive via GettyThe rapper and Tashera had four children together, and he fathered 11 more children through the years, most recently welcoming Exodus with fiancée Desiree Lindstrom in August of 2016.
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DMX’s Family
Richard Corkery/NY Daily News Archive via Getty
The rapper and Tashera had four children together, and he fathered 11 more children through the years, most recently welcoming Exodus with fiancée Desiree Lindstrom in August of 2016.
07of 12DMX in Cradle 2 the GraveClaudette Barius/Warner Bros/Kobal/ShutterstockOutside of music, DMX made a name for himself on the big screen, earning roles in movies like 2003’sCradle 2 the Grave(right, withcostar Gabrielle Union),BellyandRomeo Must Die.
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DMX in Cradle 2 the Grave
Claudette Barius/Warner Bros/Kobal/Shutterstock
Outside of music, DMX made a name for himself on the big screen, earning roles in movies like 2003’sCradle 2 the Grave(right, withcostar Gabrielle Union),BellyandRomeo Must Die.
08of 12DMX’s AwardsChris Martinez/OnlineUSABetween 2001 and 2002 he was nominated for three Grammys; though he didn’t win those, he did take home the American Music Award (right) for Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Artist in both 2000 and 2001.
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DMX’s Awards
Chris Martinez/OnlineUSA
Between 2001 and 2002 he was nominated for three Grammys; though he didn’t win those, he did take home the American Music Award (right) for Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Artist in both 2000 and 2001.
09of 12DMX’s ArrestsDonaldson Collection/Michael Ochs Archives/GettyThroughout his life,the rapper struggled with addiction, and was arrested a handful of times beginning in 1986 on various charges (at right, his mugshot after his arrest for driving without a license in March 2001 in Buffalo, New York). He entered rehab in 2017 and again in 2019.
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DMX’s Arrests
Donaldson Collection/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty
Throughout his life,the rapper struggled with addiction, and was arrested a handful of times beginning in 1986 on various charges (at right, his mugshot after his arrest for driving without a license in March 2001 in Buffalo, New York). He entered rehab in 2017 and again in 2019.
10of 12DMX on Fresh Off the BoatMichael Ansell/ABCHe also had a handful of television acting credits to his name, including this 2015 episode ofFresh Off the Boat.He voiced a character on a 1998 episode ofSouth Park,too.
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DMX on Fresh Off the Boat
Michael Ansell/ABC
He also had a handful of television acting credits to his name, including this 2015 episode ofFresh Off the Boat.He voiced a character on a 1998 episode ofSouth Park,too.
11of 12DMX DiesANGELA WEISS/AFP via GettyOn April 2, 2021,the rapper was hospitalizedin White Plains, New York, in grave condition after sufferinga heart attack at home late that night.Upon being admitted, DMX’shealth was so criticalthat he was resuscitated and placed on life support, his attorney told NBC. He was reportedly deprived of oxygen for nearly 30 minutes.On April 5, fans and family— including DMX’s ex-wife and fiancée —gathered outsideof his hospital for a vigil. Many attendees held balloons and signs for DMX as others crossed their arms to form an X, in recognition of his stage name.
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DMX Dies
ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty
On April 2, 2021,the rapper was hospitalizedin White Plains, New York, in grave condition after sufferinga heart attack at home late that night.
Upon being admitted, DMX’shealth was so criticalthat he was resuscitated and placed on life support, his attorney told NBC. He was reportedly deprived of oxygen for nearly 30 minutes.
On April 5, fans and family— including DMX’s ex-wife and fiancée —gathered outsideof his hospital for a vigil. Many attendees held balloons and signs for DMX as others crossed their arms to form an X, in recognition of his stage name.
12of 12DMX: ‘A Warrior Till the Very End’Prince Williams/WireimageOn April 9, 2021, the rapper died at the age of 50. Two days prior, heunderwent a series of tests that revealed his level of brain function and activityhad not improved following his heart attack and ultimately guided his family’s decision-making.“Earl was a warrior who fought till the very end,” his familywrote in a statement released to PEOPLE. “He loved his family with all of his heart and we cherish the times we spent with him. Earl’s music inspired countless fans across the world and his iconic legacy will live on forever. We appreciate all of the love and support during this incredibly difficult time. Please respect our privacy as we grieve the loss of our brother, father, uncle and the man the world knew as DMX.”
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DMX: ‘A Warrior Till the Very End’
Prince Williams/Wireimage
On April 9, 2021, the rapper died at the age of 50. Two days prior, heunderwent a series of tests that revealed his level of brain function and activityhad not improved following his heart attack and ultimately guided his family’s decision-making.
“Earl was a warrior who fought till the very end,” his familywrote in a statement released to PEOPLE. “He loved his family with all of his heart and we cherish the times we spent with him. Earl’s music inspired countless fans across the world and his iconic legacy will live on forever. We appreciate all of the love and support during this incredibly difficult time. Please respect our privacy as we grieve the loss of our brother, father, uncle and the man the world knew as DMX.”
source: people.com
