DMX

Also known as Earl Simmons, Dark Man X, X, Divine Master of the Unknown, Dog Master X

Earl Simmons (December 18, 1970 – April 9, 2021), known professionally as DMX, was an American rapper, songwriter, and actor. His accolades included an American Music Award, a Billboard Music Award, and six Grammy Award nominations. Regarded as an influential figure in the late 1990s and early 2000s and one of the greats of hip-hop, his music is characterized by his "aggressive" rapping style, with lyrical content varying from hardcore themes to prayers. His violent lyricism helped popularize the horrorcore genre.

AI overview

DMX was an American rapper and actor who rose to prominence in the late 1990s and early 2000s, known for his aggressive rapping style that blended hardcore themes with spiritual content and helped popularize the horrorcore genre. His influential contributions to hip-hop earned him multiple award nominations and recognition as one of the genre's greatest artists.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

Person · Open Library

Works: 3

Top works

E.A.R.L
E.A.R.L.

via Open Library + Wikidata

Film & TV

Acting · Mount Vernon, New York, USA

Earl Simmons (December 18, 1970 - April 9, 2021), better known by his stage name DMX, was an American rapper and actor who rose to fame in the late 1990s. His stage name pays tribute to the Oberheim DMX drum machine, an instrument he used when he made his own rap beats in the 80's. To date, his best-selling album is his 1999 album ...And Then There Was X, which featured the hit single "Party Up…

Known for

In Whose Name? — Self2025
Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music — Self (archive footage)2025
A Journey to Sundance — Self2023
You're Watching Video Music Box — Self (archive footage)2021
Woodstock 99: Peace, Love, and Rage — Self (archive footage)2021
DMX: Don't Try to Understand — Self2021
Fast Vengeance — Captain Liddle2021
Fast and Fierce: Death Race — Davie2020
Chronicle of a Serial Killer — Detective White2020
VERZUZ — Self2020

via TMDB

Music · MusicBrainz

Type: Person
Gender: Male
Country: United States
Active from: 1970
Active to: 2021

Discography

Born Loser1993
Make a Move1995
Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood1998
Get at Me Dog1998
How’s It Goin Down1998
It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot1998
No Love For Me1998
Ruff Ryders' Anthem1998
Slippin'1998
The Grand Finale1998

Member of

via MusicBrainz · CC0

Listeners · Last.fm

Listeners: 2,353,655
Total plays: 34,386,215

Music

Open in Spotify

Quotes

“"I am going to beat the living fuck out him...I am breaking every rule in boxing to make sure I fuck him right up [...] Once I am done with him, I am going to whip my dick out and piss on him...right in his muthafuckin face."”

via Wikiquote · CC BY-SA

Key facts

Person.name: DMX
Person.image: DMX.rapper (cropped).jpg
Person.caption: DMX in 2001
Person.birth_name: Earl Simmons
Person.birth_place: Mount Vernon, New York, U.S.
Person.death_place: White Plains, New York, U.S.
Person.burial_place: Oakland Cemetery,Yonkers, New York, U.S.
Person.years_active: 1985–2021
Person.works: DMX discography
Person.children: 15
Person.signature: DMX Signature.png
Musical artist <! See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians >.embed: yes
Musical artist <! See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians >.instrument: Vocals
Musical artist <! See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians >.origin: Yonkers, New York, U.S.

via Wikipedia infobox

Wikidata facts

Image: DMX.rapper (cropped).jpg
Number of children: 15

Show 8 more facts

Commons category: DMX
date of birth: 1970-12-18
birth name: Earl Simmons
pseudonym: Dog Master X
start of work period: 1985-00-00
social media followers: 360351
date of death: 2021-04-09
end of work period: 2021-00-00

Sources (9)

via Wikidata · CC0

~38 min read

Article

34 sections

Contents

Early life
Musical career
1985–1995: Career beginnings
1996–1997: Building hype and signing to Def Jam
1998–2000: Debut album and commercial success
2001–2004: Return to music
2005–2011: ''Year of the Dog... Again'' and ''The Definition of X''
2011–2013: ''Undisputed''
2013–2021: Def Jam reunion and ''Exodus''
Personal life
Religion
Relationships and children
Finances and bankruptcies
Feud with Ja Rule
Feud with Jay-Z
Legal issues
1986–1988
1998–1999
2000–2005: Metro NY
2007
2008–2011: Arizona and California
2013: South Carolina
2015: New York
2017–2019: Tax fraud conviction
Health problems and death
Legacy
Impact
Discography
Awards and nominations
Filmography
See also
Notes
References
External links

DMX began rapping in the late 1990s. After an unsuccessful tenure on Columbia Records, he signed with Ruff Ryders Entertainment in a joint venture with Def Jam Recordings to release his debut studio album, ''It's Dark and Hell Is Hot (1998), which was met with critical and commercial success—selling 251,000 copies in its first week and spawning the Billboard'' Hot 100-top 20 single, "Ruff Ryders' Anthem". His second album, Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood (1998), was followed by his third, (1999), which became his best-selling release and was supported by his second top 40 single, "Party Up (Up in Here)". His fourth album, The Great Depression (2001), was followed by his fifth, Grand Champ (2003), which was led by the single "Where the Hood At?" and included the international bonus track "X Gon' Give It to Ya". DMX became the first artist to have their first five albums consecutively debut atop the Billboard 200, and by his death on April 9, 2021, he had sold over 75 million records worldwide.