Earl Simmons, a.k.a. Dark Man X, is an American rapper, composer, and actor. He was the first musician whose first album landed at the top of the Billboard 200 chart. Nine studio albums have been released by DMX, which also appeared in several movies.
DMX passed away following a drug overdose on April 9, 2021. His multiple organ failure was caused by a cocaine-induced heart attack, which was listed as the official cause of death. DMX was the sixth best-selling rap artist in the US, but despite this, he had a history of financial and legal issues, and in 2021, his net worth would be negative $1 million.
DMX's Appearance (Height, Hair, Eyes & More)
| Height | 5 ft 9 in 1.75 m |
|---|---|
| Weight | 160 pounds 68 kg |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Black |
| Body Type | Fit |
| Sexual Orientation | Straight |
Facts About DMX
| Nationality | American |
|---|---|
| Estimate Net Worth | $1 million |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Zodiac Sign | Sagittarius |
| Birthplace | Mount Vernon, New York, United States |
| Birthday | December 18, 1970 |
| Death Date | APRIL 9, 2021 |
Who is DMX?
Earl Simmons was most well-known for going under the name DMX. He was an American rapper, singer, songwriter, actor, and entrepreneur. His music fell within the hip-hop, gangster rap, East Coast, and hardcore hip-hop genres.
On April 9, 2021, DMX unexpectedly passed away at the age of 50 after having a heart attack brought on by a drug overdose. However, the drug used was never surprising at all since DMX has been transparent about his crack cocaine use. When he was 14 years old, he started using the drugs after smoking a marijuana-laced cigarette. He also reveals that he has bipolar disorder.
In 2016, he was discovered unconscious in Yonkers’ Ramada Inn parking lot. He was revived by emergency personnel, given Narcan, and then taken urgently to the hospital. Although a witness said DMX consumed some sort of drug shortly before passing out, police were unable to find any illicit substances in the house. DMX insisted that an asthma episode was at blame.
DMX reportedly had a heart attack in April 2021 that was caused by a drug overdose and put him into a coma. He tragically died at the age of 50 on April 9, 2021. (1)
DMX's Net Worth
Earl Simmons is a prominent figure in hardcore rap. His early experiences led to legal problems for him immediately. DMX had a history of financial and legal issues, and in 2021, when he passed away, his estimated net worth was in the negative of $1 million.
Although Simmons’ reputation peaked in the 1990s, he had previously served time in prison for crimes like tax fraud, drug possession, and animal cruelty. Only $50,000 in assets and $1,000,000 to $10,000,000 in liabilities were listed in the late rapper’s bankruptcy petition, which was submitted to a Manhattan court in 2013.
He was sentenced to a year in prison and a $2.3 million debt after being accused with 14 counts of tax evasion in 2017. Moreover, in 2018, DMX received a one-year prison term after pleading guilty in a federal case in which he was charged with omitting $1.7 million in taxes.
Simmons expressed remorse for not paying his taxes, but the judge said that his conduct “cannot go unpunished” despite his excellent character. Meanwhile, Simmons’ attorney performed a section of his 1998 song “Slippin in the Courtroom,” which was about his legal troubles.
“They put me in a scenario needing me to be a man. When I was just starting to stand without a helping hand,” Simmon’s rap line in the song.
Simmons is accused of evading taxes between 2000 and 2005 by transferring money to several accounts managed by his managers and accomplices. He was also charged with hiding millions of dollars in revenue from his popular songs. According to allegations, DMX’s financial issues result from the 15 children he has. (2)
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DMX's Early Life
Earl Simmons is the actual name of the notable rapper, better known as “DMX,” who was born on 18th December 1970 in Mount Vernon, New York; the acronym for his name is “Dark Man X.” The son of Arnett Simmons and Joe Barker, DMX grew up in Yonkers, New York’s underprivileged area.
Earl’s father never married his mother and left them shortly after Earl was born. Besides dealing with his stern mother, he also had to deal with the trauma his mother’s boyfriends inflicted on him as a child. The rapper had a terrible and violent childhood, which forced him to wander in group homes and make a living on the streets.
Simmons was expelled from school in the fifth grade and sent to the Julia Dyckman Andrus Children’s Home for about a year. He then went back to another boys’ home as a teenager several years later. During this period, Simmons started creating hip-hop music and doing performances for his peers. Eventually, Simmons ran across the local rapper Ready Ron, who was impressed by Simmons’ beatboxing abilities and eventually partnered up.
Simmons then adopted the moniker “DMX,” which was derived from a musical instrument he used to play at the boys’ home: the Oberheim DMX drum machine. (Dark Man X would later be used in place of the moniker.)
Furthermore, Simmons was often aggressive as a teenager and had multiple run-ins with the law. Due to his ability to survive on the streets, he spent time in and out of prison and started using drugs and alcohol at a young age. For 14 years, Simmons struggled with a crack cocaine addiction. Thereafter, Ready Ron lured him into smoking marijuana that actually contained drugs.
He has spent more than 25 times in jail for offenses including carjacking, posing as a federal official, robbery, and animal cruelty. Numerous other claims were brought against him. He began his career as a DJ and human beatbox before switching to rapping thanks to hip hop, which provided him redemption. (3)
DMX's Education
A freshman DMX studied at Yonkers Middle High School, where he was discovered as a natural athlete and the second-fastest member of the varsity track and field team. DMX, on the other hand, struggled in school; with low attendance and grades, he quit college to pursue a criminal career.
When he was a teen, DMX started engaging in armed robberies to get money. His first crime was stealing a woman’s purse, which earned him $100. He used the money to purchase a pair of Timberland boots for himself and a leather leash and harness for his pit bull.
By the end of the year, he was robbing three individuals every day and made the decision to switch to carjacking because it was a more profitable source of income.
DMX’s Wife/Girlfriend and Family Life
Earl Simmons revealed his father’s name is Joe Barker, while his mother’s name is Arnett Earl Simmons. The rapper revealed that his father left them long after he was born. Moreover, he has two other sisters named Bonita Simmons and Shayla Simmons.
Simmons was married to Tashera Simmons in 1999, and they had four children together. His sons’ names are Xavier Simmons, Tocoma Simmons, and Shawn Simmons, while their daughter’s name is Praise Mary Ella Simmons. However, after 11 years of marriage, Tashera revealed around the year 2010 her separation from her marriage with Earl. She also clarified that they ended their relationship on good terms. (4)
DNA tests revealed that at least two of DMX’s children were born through extramarital relationships, and the rapper is accused of having been unfaithful to his wife throughout the course of their marriage. DNA tests in 2007 confirmed DMX’s paternity, and he was forced to give Monique Wayne $1.5 million as restitution. Additionally, he is associated with 15 kids, including his youngest kid, Exodus Simmons, who was born on August 16, 2016, to his girlfriend, Desiree Lindstrom.
DMX's Career
The Source Magazine’s Unsigned Hype column first featured DMX after he attracted attention in the freestyle rap movement. He secured a contract with Columbia’s subsidiary Ruffhous in 1992, and his first song, “Born Loser,” was launched. This looked to be DMX’s promising beginning, but the business under-promoted his music, and he was soon let go from his contract. Then, in 1994, he dropped “Make a Move” as his second single; however, he was shortly detained for drug possession.
Approximately three years later, in 1997, DMX joined Def Jam and began making guest appearances with musicians like LL Cool J and Mase. The following year, a third single, “Get at me Dog,” was dropped. The rap and dance charts saw this song become a big success with gold sales, making DMX a mainstream name.
DMX’s debut album, “It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot,” was released in 1998 and achieved critical acclaim and commercial success. His album sold over 251,000 copies in the first week alone. The album went on to sell over 74 million copies worldwide, including 17.1 million in the US. He has dropped seven studio albums and five compilation albums. He has previously appeared in several films as well, including “Never Die Alone.”
A year later, on December 21, 1999, he released “And Then There Was X,” which was his best-selling album. Six-times certified Platinum was given to the album, which also debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. One of DMX’s biggest hit singles and his first Top Ten success on the R&B charts, “Party Up (Up in Here),” is one of the album’s well-liked songs.
His other popular singles include “Ruff Ryders’Anthm” in 1998, “What’s My Name?” in 1999, “X Gon’ Give It to Ya” in 2003, and “Where the Hoot At?” in 2003.
DMX has launched a total of seven studio albums. On September 11, 2012, he dropped his most recent album, “Undisputed.” The album entered the Billboard 200 at number 19, selling 17,000 copies, and garnered a different reaction from music critics. Throughout his career, DMX has sold more than 70 million records globally. DMX earned the title of Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Artist at the American Music Awards in 2000 and 2001. Besides that, he has received five MTV Music Video Awards nominations and three Grammy nominations.
Furthermore, aside from his work as a rapper, DMX has appeared as a lead or supporting actor in eight films. He appeared in multiple direct-to-DVD films, and in 2014, he appeared in the movie “Top Five.” The autobiography of DMX, titled “EARL: The Autobiography of DMX,” was published in 2002.
Additionally, a Grammy Award winner and rap superstar, DMX was the only rapper to have a number-one album in the 1990s for a whole decade. People like DMX’s music; his YouTube channel presently has over 2 million followers, and nearly every video has had over 150 million views.
Record production is one of DMX’s side projects in addition to rapping and acting. “Bloodline Records,” a label specializing in the newest R&B and hip-hop artists, was established in 2000 due to his collaboration with Def Jam. Nyla and Word one are two musicians currently signed with the company.
Controversies
DMX’s first two studio albums, “It’s Dark, and Hell is Hot” and “Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood,” both released in 1998, are credited for helping DMX earn his early financial success. DMX also has released seven studio albums and had many film appearances. Although, by 2000, he had run into serious financial difficulties. Thus, as the CEO of Def Jam at the time, Jay-Z had to step in to help DMX pay off his obligations.
After achieving success in his music, DMX signed a deal with Columbia Records in 2006 and finally left Def Jam. It was made possible by Jay-Z clearing DMX’s $12 million debt from the time. Although Earl’s finances were not satisfactory in the early 2000s, he suffered a financial crisis in 2008 due to having two children outside his marriage.
Monique Wayne, the mother of the kids, sued DMX for unpaid child support totaling $1.5 million. The astounding number of 15 kids DMX had in the 2000s led to numerous child support claims, which reduced his wealth. After failing to pay $400,000 in child support, DMX finally received a six-month prison term in 2015.
He issued a bankruptcy petition in 2013, stating $50,000 in assets and between $1 million and $10 million in debt. The musician was sentenced to a year in prison in 2017 on 14 charges of tax fraud and was also ordered to pay more than $2.3 million in fines. (5)
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Real Estate
Behind all the legal and financial issues, DMX also had a car collection: Mercedes-Benz CL500, 1964 Chevrolet Impala Hydraulics, and 1966 Chevy Nova 2 Luxury cars.
References
- Steve Huey, DMX Biography, retrieved from https://www.allmusic.com/artist/dmx-mn0000661795/biography
- Andy Thompson, DMX Net Worth 2022: How Much Is DMX Worth Right Now?, retrieved from https://www.bloggersideas.com/dmx-net-worth/
- Euell A. Nielsen, DMX/EARL SIMMONS (1970-2021), retrieved from https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/people-african-american-history/dmx-earl-simmons-1970-2021/
Clara Gaspar, DMX’S EX Who is DMX’s ex-wife Tashera Simmons?, retrieved from https://www.the-sun.com/entertainment/2639299/who-tashera-simmons-dmx-ex-wife/
- Hip Hop Scripture, DMX Digital Biography, retrieved from https://www.hiphopscriptures.com/dmx