Friday was the day when he died at the age of 50. Romeo and Juliet must die, and their graves become the cradle of their love. Exit wounds is one of the action movies that starred the iconic actor and rapper from New York, DMX, who is known for his songs such as “Party Up (Up in Here)” and “X Gon’ Give It to Ya.”
According to his previous manager, he passed away at White Plains Hospital in New York after being admitted on April 2nd due to a drug overdose and subsequent heart attack, while being in a “vegetative state.” Earl Simmons, known by his real name DMX.
We will share information about his memorial service once the details are finalized. During this incredibly difficult time, we appreciate all the support and love. Please respect our privacy as we grieve the loss of our beloved uncle, father, and brother, DMX. Earl’s iconic legacy will forever live on, inspiring countless fans across the world with his music. He was a warrior who fought till the very end, and we will cherish all the times we spent with him and the love in his heart.
In 2019, he openly struggled with a crack cocaine addiction and was forced to check himself into rehab for drug problems in a series of scheduled live performances.
An artist who defined late 1990s and 2000s hip-hop, DMX eschewed some of the bling that his contemporaries embraced. His first five studio albums, featuring his unmistakable gravelly voice, aggressive style, and hardcore lyrics, sold well, with over 20 million records and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard charts, winning over critics and fans alike.
Abbreviated as Dark Man X, DMX initially embraced his stage moniker and cultivated his passion for music in one of these establishments. He frequently resided in boys’ homes during his formative years, enduring appalling physical mistreatment from his mother at a tender age and navigating a tumultuous upbringing. DMX was born on December 18, 1970, in Mount Vernon, New York, and was raised in Yonkers.
In 1992, DMX started beatboxing for local rappers like Ron Ready, despite his career failing to gain traction due to a plethora of legal issues. His first single, “Loser Born,” was released on Ruffhouse, a subsidiary of Columbia Records, and it generated buzz for his demos.
During the late ’90s and early 2000s, everyone would proceed to control the charts and the culture. That track additionally showcased appearances from two other then-unknown rappers — Jay-Z and Ja Rule — and a status boosted by guest appearances for LL Cool J and on the now-legendary Mic Geronimo single “Time to Build” in 1995, DMX’s subterranean reputation continued to expand as he emerged as one of the most anticipated unsigned artists at that moment. He was released by the record label.
Swizz Beatz, Jin and Drag-On, Eve, The LOX, and DMX were part of the collective and record label known as Ryders Ruff, which celebrated the chart-topping and club-favorite “Anthem Ryders Ruff.” This song was also featured on DMX’s first studio album, “It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot,” released in 1998. Additionally, the album included the gold-certified single “Get At Me Dog,” which marked DMX’s debut on his major label, Def Jam.
Making its debut at the top spot on the Billboard 200 chart and selling over 5 million copies, It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot proved to be a remarkable success. DMX, recently established as a popular artist, then released Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood. He became the first artist who was alive to have two albums make their debut at No. 1 in the same year.
DMX, one of the top hip-hop stars, achieved first rank with his debut album “It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot,” which went triple platinum. Despite a slight decline in overall sales, the album still featured hit singles like “Slippin'” and “No Love 4 Me,” both produced primarily by Swizz Beatz.
His third studio album, “X, There Was Then And…” Would be his best-selling work, achieving platinum status five times. It also landed him a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Album. The record contains his best-charting and best-selling singles, including “Want Bitches These What” and “Name My What’s,” as well as the Beatz-produced hit “Up Up Party.”
The Woodstock event witnessed the recording of the Live at Woodstock album, which documented a remarkable and energetic show by DMX in the presence of a massive crowd of fans in 1999.
In 2015, he released three additional albums, the final one being Redemption of the Beast. The single “Who We Be” received a Grammy nomination for the best rap solo performance. DMX continued his success with two more studio albums, Grand Champ in 2003 and The Great Depression in 2001, both of which debuted at No. 1.
In addition to his solo output, DMX was a much sought-after guest rapper known for his notable appearances, including Jay-Z’s “Money, Cash, Hoes,” Mary J. Blige’s “Sincerity” and “Faith,” and Evans’ “How’s It Goin’ Down.”
Williams Hype, a renowned director of music videos, made his big-screen debut in 1998, playing the lead role alongside fellow rapper Nas in the legendary film Belly. Unfortunately, Belly received widespread criticism due to its troubled production. DMX later appeared in Romeo Must Die (2000), directed by Andrzej Bartkowiak, alongside the late singer Aaliyah and actor Jet Li.
Throughout its duration, Romeo Must Die generated a total of $91 million in revenue from the American box office and debuted at the second position. Bartkowiak and DMX worked together on three movies, including Exit Wounds (2001) alongside Steven Seagal, and Cradle 2 the Grave (2003), which marked the reunion of DMX and Jet Li. This movie marked the beginning of a trilogy of collaborations between DMX and Bartkowiak.
His television credits included episodes of Third Watch and Fresh Off the Boat. In the 2000s and onwards, he starred in direct-to-DVD movies such as Beyond the Law (2019) alongside Seagal in a reunion and Last Hour (2008) alongside Michael Madsen. Never Die Alone, a crime thriller directed by Ernest R. Dickerson, was his last film to be widely released in 2004 when DMX starred in it and unfortunately, it did not perform well at the box office.
In his autobiography published in 2002, titled E.A.R.L., DMX detailed the horrifying abuse he suffered as a child at the hands of his mother and her boyfriends, involving drugs.
DMX, throughout his life, was dogged by multiple legal issues including tax evasion at the federal level for 2018, spending time in prison in West Virginia, and being arrested multiple times for animal cruelty and drug robbery.
He tied the knot with Tashera Simmons in 1999, parting ways after approximately 11 years of togetherness. The pair had four kids.