(Credit to DMX’s YouTube)
Earl Simmons, aka DMX, prominent rapper, hip-hop icon, actor, and songwriter, passed away on Friday, April 9th, 2021, after suffering from an apparent drug overdose and subsequent heart attack. He was only 50 years old.
The family of DMX released this press statement on the day he died: “We are deeply saddened to announce today that our loved one, DMX, birth name of Earl Simmons, passed away at White Plains Hospital with his family by his side after being placed on life support the past few days.”
Born to teenage parents on December 18th, 1970, and raised as a Jehovah’s Witness, DMX suffered an abusive childhood. He struggled as a young man dealing with the law, often doing stints in reform schools and even serving jail time for various crimes such as mugging, robbery, and, as he grew older, car theft. But somewhere along the line, his talent for words and his drive to succeed rewarded him with one of the most prolific rap/hip-hop careers of all time.
According to Wikipedia, DMX started rapping in the early 90s, and released his first major album, “Its Dark and Hell is Hot” in May of 1998. Only 7 months later, in the December of 1998, he released the album, “Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood.” He released a total of 7 studio albums, and was the first artist to “debut an album at #1 five times in a row on the Billboard 200 charts.” Some of his top songs include “Party Up (Up in Here),” “Where the Hood At?” as well as “X Gon’ Give It To Ya,” which also served as the theme song for the 2016 movie, “Deadpool,” starring Ryan Reynolds.
As an actor, DMX starred in the films “Belly,” “Romeo Must Die,” “Exit Wounds,” “Cradle 2 The Grave,” and “Last Hour.” He also starred in a reality TV series, primarily aired on BET, called “DMX, Soul of a Man.”
In an article from GQ magazine on April 10, 2021, it was quoted that “X suffered for all our sins and his own. Arguably the rawest rapper of all time, he lacked pretense and frills – a tortured vessel pumping pure adrenaline, lawless genius, and reckless abandon. The struggle incarnate.”
According to complex.com, a celebration of life for DMX is planned for Saturday, April 24th, at 4 pm ET, at one of the largest entertainment venues in the United States, The Barclay’s Center in Boston; this event will also be live-streamed on the rapper’s YouTube channel. A second service, a “Homegoing Celebration,” is planned for Sunday, April 25th, at 2:30 pm ET. The public will be able to live stream both memorials, with The Homegoing Celebration being aired live on BET as well. Only family and friends will be allowed to attend the memorial services.
Since his death, streams of DMX’s music have jumped 900 percent, Billboard reported last week, and his compilation album “The Best of DMX,” jumped 71 spots to reach number 2 on the Billboard charts. (complex.com)
Written by Mandie Stevens
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