DMX – What’s My Name?

Born in Mount Vernon, New York on December 18, 1970, Earl Simmons is an American rapper and actor signed to Ruff Ryders Entertainment. He is better known by his stage name, DMX, or Dark Man X. Simmons was raised in Yonkers, New York. After releasing It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot, his debut solo album, in 1998, he went on to record Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood, And Then There Was X, in 1999, The Great Depression, Grand Champ, in 2003, and Year of the Dog, Again, in 2006. His detention on drug possession charges has delayed the release of his two upcoming albums, Walk with Me Now and the gospel-inspired You’ll Fly with Me Later, until early 2010.

After Tupac Shakur and the Notorious B.I.G. passed away, DMX became the undisputed hardcore rap king. He embodied that exceptional quality: a business titan possessing ample artistic and street credential. In reality, his quick rise to fame took nearly ten years to build, which allowed him to cultivate the theatrical presence that made him one of rap’s most recognizable figures in his prime. DMX’s gruff, barking delivery and his muscular, tattooed body matched his typical lyrical fascination with dogs perfectly. Everything about him was unrelentingly intense. Furthermore, there was substance to the style; his obsession with the boundary between the sacred and the profane ran through most of his output. Like a hip-hop Johnny Cash, he could switch between stories about the crimes of the streets and spiritual agony in a matter of minutes, all while maintaining the complexity of the same persona. Because to the remarkable outcomes, DMX became the only musician in history to have five consecutive albums debut at the top of the charts.

An autobiography

Born in Mount Vernon, New York, Earl Simmons was raised in the Yonkers, New York, School Street housing projects as the second of a single mother’s three children. Around the age of 13, Simmons started rapping, entertaining young audiences with rhymes based on words that were spelled out, a style he called “spellbound.” Eventually, a local rapper asked the young Earl to beatbox for him, and Simmons accepted, taking on the stage name DMX, which is an algebraic expression for unknown. However, stood for a drum kit that produced incredible beats at the time. He eventually made the decision to give serious rapping a go, and while living in a group home, he polished his craft. In addition, he was often on the run from the law and got into confrontations. He also started performing live and competing against other rappers, including taking on and defeating Jay-Z, to establish himself as a prominent figure in the New York region. “DMX: Unleashed and Unreleased,” the title of his debut album, became an immediate hit on Yonkers’ streets. In 1988, he was also included in The Source’s Unsigned Hype section.

In his reality TV show DMX: Soul Of A Man, he expressed his desire to become a pastor after ending his rap career.

Pit bull breeds, like as American Pit Bull Terriers and American Staffordshire Terriers, are beloved by DMX. He has a tattoo on his back that says “One Love Boomer” and features one of his departed dogs. Later on, he gave the United Negro Association—which supports underprivileged black youngsters in New York City—more than $1 million.

career in recording

In and out of prison, DMX made the decision to concentrate only on his rap career. He started putting some serious effort into finding a deal and made contact with Pete McCormick Schaub, who was Small Island’s A&R at the time. He ultimately agreed to a management contract with Ruff Ryders. They worked out agreements with Death Row Records and Bad Boy Records, but in the end, he ended up at Def Jam. Currently signed to Sony BMG, he will release his first album, the first of three, on August 1, 2006. In a press conference, it was revealed that DMX had not signed with 50 Cent’s G-Unit Records, despite rumors to the contrary.

It’s hot and dark in hell.

DMX released the single “Born Loser” prior to It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot, but the video’s explicit imagery caused MTV to reject it. “Get At Me Dog,” DMX’s first single, became an immediate hit. After Tupac Shakur passed away and Puff Daddy and Bad Boy Entertainment momentarily ruled the charts with their pop-oriented and sample-heavy songs, his highly praised debut album It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot is frequently credited with bringing Hardcore Rap back to the public.

After earning a second shot at a major label in 1997 with Def Jam, DMX went on to have a successful guest appearance on LL Cool J’s “4, 3, 2, 1.” He went on to create even more buzz with appearances on Ma$e’s “24 Hours to Live” and fellow Yonkers MCs The LOX’s “Money, Power, & Respect.” Eventually, in early 1998, he dropped his debut Def Jam single, “Get At Me Dog,” which went gold and became a hit on the rap and dance charts. The song made it possible for DMX to release his iconic debut full-length album, It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot, which topped the pop charts upon its release.

The majority of the production was done by Damon “Dame Grease” Blackman; Swizz Beatz produced the “Ruff Ryders’ Anthem,” opening the door for more collaborations between the two. Due to his powerful and forceful presence on the mic, DMX was frequently compared to Tupac Shakur in It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot. Following the passing of Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G., DMX was credited with bringing back Hardcore Rap with the album, which went on to sell over four million copies. However, DMX was eventually exonerated of any wrongdoing after DNA evidence proved otherwise. The album was released in May 1998. Alongside Nas and Method Man, he made his screen debut in Belly, a moderately successful film directed by Hype Williams. Hip hop audiences gave the movie a significant following even though it wasn’t a critical success.

My flesh and blood, oh my flesh and blood

Before the year ended, DMX finished his second album, which was released on December 15 in stores due to a potential Def Jam takeover. Blood of My Blood, Flesh of My Flesh, reached triple platinum after debuting at the top of the charts. DMX became the first rapper to have two number one albums in the same year thanks to this number one smash. There was substantial debate over the rapper’s cover image, which showed him covered in pig’s blood. “Slippin'” became his first UK chart smash single. The next year, DMX embarked on the highly successful Hard Knock Life tour alongside Jay-Z and the Method Man/Redman group. With the venerable rap trio Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, he had a song called “Jack Moves,” but it wasn’t on the album.

He was later absolved of any involvement in the stabbing that occurred during a tour stop in Denver, which led to the issuance of an arrest warrant for him. The accusations against him were again withdrawn. He was accused of punching a Yonkers man who had allegedly harassed his wife in May. That summer, after DMX’s uncle/manager was unintentionally shot in the foot at a New Jersey hotel, more severe accusations were pursued. Following a police search on DMX’s house, the rapper and his spouse were charged with narcotics possession, animal cruelty, and possession of weapons. After striking a plea deal, he was simply sentenced to community service, probation, and penalties.

Afterwards, there was X.

On December 21, 1999, DMX released his third album, And Then There Was X. This was the artist’s third consecutive number-one debut album. His biggest hit since “Get at Me Dog,” which peaked at number ten on the R&B charts, is Party Up. His subsequent singles from the album, included “What These Bitches Want” and “What’s My Name,” Sisqó was also well-liked. The rapper’s best-selling album to date, And Then There Was X, has gone 6x platinum and 9x platinum globally. It was also one of DMX’s fastest-produced albums; Def Jam pushed him to complete the tracks in less than a month, although in the past, DMX would take a year to develop songs.

The Decade of Great Depression

Following the resolution of his legal issues, DMX went back into the recording studio to finish his fourth album, The Great Depression. It debuted at number one for DMX for the fourth time in a row when it was released on October 3, 2001. The record showcased his unwavering loyalty to the Ruff Ryders. Though it didn’t have the same longevity as his earlier efforts, The Great Depression reached platinum fast.

Grand Champion

Grand Champ, which debuted at number one in 2003, becoming DMX’s fifth consecutive album to do so, solidifying his status as the only artist in history to have five albums—that is, his entire discography—debut at the top of the charts. Critics and fans expressed dissatisfaction with the album, with the majority noting that it felt formulaic. Following its release, DMX revealed to the world that Grand Champ would be his last album and that he intended to retire from the rap business. Later on, he declared that he was going to record the album Year of the Dog…Again, calling an end to his short retirement. Despite selling about 125,000 copies at launch, it was unable to secure DMX’s sixth consecutive #1 album. The album is not yet Gold in the United States and is his lowest-selling record to date.

Another Year of the Dog

Year of the Dog…Again was released on August 1st, 2006, but had several issues because DMX switched record labels and there were multiple delays. This album only missed the number one slot by a few thousand sales, compared to its five predecessors who all debuted at number one. The album was retitled “Year of the Dog, Again” instead of “Here We Go, Again” in March of 2006. Def Jam gave DMX permission to retain all of the songs he had recorded for the album when he moved to Sony. Most of the tunes were reportedly being rewritten with improved production, but there has also been a leak of the revised album. Additionally, DMX made an appearance on Busta Rhymes’ “Touch It (The Remix)”. The new songs “Lord Give Me A Sign” and “We In Here” featuring have also been published. Beatz Swizz, which appears in “Year of the Dog…Again”

Title Unknown

Arriving in 2007…

criminal past

DMX’s criminal past began with his 1999 arrest in Teaneck, New Jersey, where police discovered 13 pit bulls used for dog fighting, crack pipes, and a pistol on his property. He was ordered to do public service announcements for the Humane Society after entering a guilty plea to charges of animal cruelty, disorderly conduct, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

He was taken into custody in June 2003 for using profanity in front of a crowd of over 3,000 people at a concert in the Caribbean nation of St. Kitts and Nevis. The minister of information for the nation claimed that there will be no lewd language spoken on stage in accordance with an agreement struck before to the performance. DMX was given a bail and let out. ($376)

DMX and a companion were taken into custody in the Kennedy Airport parking lot in New York in June 2004 on suspicion of trying to steal a car and posing as federal agents. When Simmons was questioned by police, he claimed to be a “special agent,” but the agents knew he was an entertainer, not an agent. DMX was brought to Queens’ Central Lockup and detained on suspicion of robbery attempt, criminal impersonation, and damage. In December, he entered a guilty plea to reckless endangerment and was given a conditional release. Due to the event, he lost his 1998 Ford Expedition and had his driver’s license suspended.

After his vehicle collided with a police cruiser in The Bronx in April of 2005, DMX was taken into custody for driving under the influence.

After admitting guilt to two traffic infractions while his license was suspended—the April incident and the incident involving speeding his vehicle at 104 miles per hour on Interstate 684 close to his Westchester residence—DMX was sentenced to 60 days in jail in October of 2005.

After refusing to fasten his seatbelt and acting aggressively during a trip from New York to London in May of 2006, DMX was taken into custody at a London airport for causing a disturbance. Under British law, he was released with a “caution,” which essentially means that he has admitted guilt and that the incident will be documented.

Bobby Brown, DMX, and Busta Rhymes were all taken into custody on September 4, 2006, on suspicion of possessing narcotics for personal use.

In E.A.R.L.: The Autobiography of DMX, DMX references his criminal defense lawyer, Murray Richman, popularly known as “Don’t Worry Murray.”

DMX was given a 90-day sentence after entering a guilty plea to charges of drug possession, theft, and animal cruelty on December 31, 2008.[19][20] On February 22, 2009, Simmons was re-booked for aggravated assault while serving his sentence, allegedly for throwing a dinner tray at a corrections officer and skipping work assignments. If Simmons is found guilty of the assault, his probation may be revoked and he may receive a longer sentence.

Competitions

Over his career, DMX has had a number of notable disagreements with other musicians; some of these have been low-key, while others have been publicized with assistance from the media and radio.

• K-Solo, a rapper DMX battled in jail, was a member of Erick Sermon’s Def Squad. Solo used the “spellbound” approach that DMX claims to have devised in a respectable hit single that was released. In 1998, DMX made a response with It’s Dark and Hell is Hot. It took Solo till 2001 to respond. But in a recent interview, DMX issued a challenge to fight with the rapper, who also happens to be a part-time boxer.

K-Solo took a polygraph test in a clip from the documentary Beef, answering questions regarding the “spellbound” approach. The findings did not support either of the two.

• Dogg Pound member Kurupt said that DMX had slept with Foxy Brown. Snoop Dogg encouraged the squashing of the feud.
• There were rumors that Eminem and DMX had sent each other subliminal messages on a 1999 hit song called “Party Up (Up in Here)” and on an Eminem freestyle. Later, the two rappers collaborated to create the mocking song “Go To Sleep with Obie Trice,” which was featured on the Cradle 2 the Grave soundtrack and mocked Ja Rule.
• In 2004, it was rumored that The LOX and DMX had some issues related to their time spent living in Yonkers. There are rumors that the trio was the target of a line in the song “Trina Moe” from The Great Depression. But in the same “recent interview,” where DMX rekindled his feud with K-Solo, the musician also acknowledged LOX and proposed that the two of them work together on future projects. At least two of the forthcoming DMX album’s leaked versions feature well-known D-Block rappers Styles P and Jadakiss.
• DMX and Jay-Z were never signed to the Murder Inc. record label, despite what the general public believes. At first, Jay-Z, DMX, and Ja Rule were meant to be the members of Murder Inc., not a record company. DMX accused former partner Ja Rule of collaborating with Eminem, 50 Cent, and other people to disparage the label in order to get rich off of his style. According to an interview with allhiphop.com, there have been new allegations that DMX and Ja Rule had called it quits on their feud.
• After X departed Def Jam for Sony/Columbia, DMX and Jay-Z started to get into a fight. DMX claims that they are both too large and that he can’t work under Jay-Z. Also, this led to a minor quarrel between Rihanna and X. When questioned about the abrupt change, DMX replied, “I can’t work under him (Jay-Z) anymore.” In addition, DMX took a swipe at Jay-Z’s song “We In Here” and said, “I have nothing against the label itself, I just can’t work under him.” DMX also supported Cam’Ron during his rivalry with Jay-Z on Funkmaster Flex’s radio show on Hot 97. It prompted Jay to criticize X in a line from his album Kingdome Come.