Legacy of X
December 18 1970 Earl Simmons was born better known as DMX (Dark Man X) he began his music career by beatboxing for a local rapper in 1984. His time in prison is where he began to write his own lyrics, his second time in prison back in 1988 is where he got serious and dedicated most his time to writing lyrics. When released from prison that summer he began working on his own mixtapes. In 1992 he signed to Columbia records where he released his debut single Born Loser, but the single didn't get enough airplay that the company parted ways with X. It wasn't until February of 1998 when X released his major label debut single, "Get At Me Dog", thru Def Jam.
On May 1998 his debut album It's Dark and Hell Is Hot was released and debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 charts in the U.S. Later that year he released his second album titled Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood; which also debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200, at the time it made X only the second artist to release multiple albums in the same year to debut at #1 on the Billboard 200 charts. His 3rd and best selling album titled, And Then There Was X was released on December 21, 1999. His eighth and last studio album was released January 13, 2015.
DMX had a great music career but also on the big screen, starring in movies such as Belly, Romeo Must Die, and Cradle To The Grave. But with so much success also comes a little downfall, X said he became addicted to crack cocaine at the age of 14, after he was tricked into smoking a Marijuana cigarette laced with crack. In 2016 he was found unresponsive in the parking lot of a hotel in Yonkers New York, a witness claims he ingested a substance before collapsing, but the police found no illegal substance on the scene.
X later revealed it was due to an asthma attack. Simmons entered treatment for substance abuse several times, including back in 2017 when he canceled a tour he had scheduled to return to rehab. On April 2nd he was rushed to the hospital after an apparent overdose and subsequent heart attack. He was on life support and in vegetative state till the day of his passing on April 10th 2021, DMX was 50 years old, and leaves behind 15 children.
Through the ups and downs in his career X leaves his mark in music, film, and life. A man who battled his demons till the very end, will be remembered by all, and who paved the way for many artists now. This can be a lesson to us all, if you are battling an addiction you aren't alone in the world , don't be afraid to seek help, hug your loved ones because tomorrow's isn't guaranteed.
