Hip-hop stars mourn DMX
A rap giant, Earl Simmons struggled with drugs and legal issues that sent him to jail
Hip-hop artists and celebrities have paid homage to rapper DMX who died on Saturday. In Instagram posts, Nas called him “Gods poet” while Eve praised him as “one of the most special people I have ever met”. Chingy recalled touring with DMX and being inspired by his style and struck by how “he always showed me love”. Former Def Jam executive Lyor Cohen remembered him as a “wonderful, caring father”.
DMX, the Grammy-nominated artist behind the songs Ruff Ryders’ Anthem and Party Up (Up in Here) whose distinctively gruff voice and thoughtful messages in his rhymes made him one of rap’s biggest stars, was 50.
The Grammy-nominated performer died after “catastrophic cardiac arrest”, according to the hospital in White Plains, New York, where he died. He was rushed there from his home on April 2.
His family’s statement said DMX, whose birth name was Earl Simmons, died with relatives by his side after several days on life support.
“Earl was a warrior who fought till the very end. He loved his family with all of his heart, and we cherish the times we spent with him,” the family said.
Memorial plans were not yet set. DMX — who rapped with a trademark raspy delivery that was often paired with growls, barks and “What!” as an ad-lib — built a multiplatinum career in the late 1990s and early 2000s, but he also struggled with drug addiction and legal problems that repeatedly put him behind bars.
“His message of triumph over struggle, his search for the light out of darkness, his pursuit of truth and grace brought us closer to our own humanity,” his record label, Def Jam Recordings, said, describing him as “nothing less than a giant”.
DMX made a splash in 1998 with his first studio album, It’s Dark and Hell is Hot, which debuted No 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. The multiplatinum-selling album was anchored by several hits including Ruff Ryders’ Anthem, Get At Me Dog, Stop Being Greedy and How It’s Goin’ Down.
DMX followed up with four straight chart-topping albums including ... And Then There Was X, Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood, The Great Depression and Grand Champ. He released seven albums, earned three Grammy nominations and was named favourite rap/hip-hop artist at the 2000 American Music Awards.
DMX arrived on the rap scene around the same time as Jay-Z, Ja Rule and others who dominated the charts and emerged as platinumselling acts. They were all part of rap crews, too: DMX fronted the Ruff Ryders collective, which helped launch the careers of Grammy winners Eve and Swizz Beatz, and relaunch The Lox, formerly signed to Bad Boy Records. Ruff Ryders had success on the charts and on radio with its Ryde or Die compilation albums.
Along with his musical career, DMX paved his way as an actor. He starred in the 1998 film Belly and appeared in 2000’s Romeo Must Die with Jet Li and Aaliyah. DMX and Aaliyah teamed up for Come Back in One Piece on the film’s soundtrack.
The rapper would later open Aaliyah’s tribute music video, Miss You, alongside her other friends and collaborators, including Missy Elliott, Lil’ Kim and Queen Latifah, after Aaliyah’s 2001 death in a plane crash at age 22.
The rapper also starred in 2001’s Exit Wounds with Steven Seagal and 2003’s Cradle 2 the Grave with Li.
But while DMX made his mark as one of hip-hop’s most recognisable names for his rap artistry and as an actor, the rapper was personally stifled by his legal battles — he was repeatedly arrested and jailed within a decade — and drug addiction. His addiction first took hold at age 14 when he smoked a marijuana cigarette that was laced with cocaine.
Survivors include his 15 children and his mother.