DMX, the iconic rapper who helped build the Ruff Ryders label into a powerhouse during the late 1990s, has died.
The Yonkers-bred MC, born Earl Simmons, passed away on Friday (April 10) after experiencing a heart attack triggered by a drug overdose. He was 50.
“We are deeply saddened to announce today that our loved one, DMX, birth name of Earl Simmons, passed away at 50-years-old at White Plains Hospital with his family by his side after being placed on life support for the past few days. 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. Earl’s music inspired countless fans across the world and his iconic legacy will live on forever,” his family said in a statement. “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. We will share information about his memorial service once details are finalized.”ARTIST
As of Sunday (April 4), DMX had been on life support and was in a “vegetative state,” according to his former manager.
One of rap’s biggest underdogs, DMX, catapulted into mainstream glory in 1998 when the East Coast crown was up for grabs. After the passing of The Notorious B.I.G. in 1997, New York yearned for a new king. With Nas and Jay-Z considered promising replacements to the throne, a young, spirited DMX pounced on the opportunity to spar with the city’s elite.
Before officially entering the mainstream circuit with his magnum opus, 1998’s It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot, X proved his competitive fervor when he and Jay first battled in the mid-’90s. As legend has it, X took a cab from Baltimore to New York to partake in the main event. To this day, the contentious Bronx royale highlighted X’s bruising delivery, scrappy wordplay, and grit-and-grind mindset.
“It was both of their styles at their purest forms. DMX was definitely on that barking, that whole thing. That was his whole persona. His voice was just raw,” producer Ski-Beatz told HipHopDX in 2011 regarding the infamous showdown.
The Darkman’s dog-eat-dog mentality continued when he signed to Ruff Ryders/Def Jam. Like his Bronx battle against Jay, X didn’t shy away from the competition. Out the gate, he blitzed the hip-hop game with hard-hitting features, most notably LL Cool J’s “4, 3, 2, 1” (Remix), Mase’s “24 Hrs. to Live,” and The LOX’s “Money, Power, Respect.”
Then, in 1998, his signature growl and bark found a home on his debut album, It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot. After flexing his aggressive aura on his singles like “Get At Me Dog” and “Stop Being Greedy,” he put the rap game on notice when he and a young Swizz Beatz carved out “Ruff Ryders Anthem” — an ode to their burgeoning crew.
The album zoomed to No. 1 on the Billboard 200, cementing his status as a superstar. Following the release of It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot, X’s pursuit for rap dominance continued when he doubled down and dropped his second album, Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood, later that year.
While juggling his newfound music fame, X segued into acting. He proved he was a natural when he starred alongside Nas in the hip-hop classic film Belly. His role opened more doors on the movie side, as he later was featured in Romeo Must Die (2000), Exit Wounds (2001) and Cradle 2 the Grave (2003).