DMX

Earl Simmons (December 18, 1970 - - April 9, 2021) who was professionally known as DMX was an American rapper and actor. His debut album It's Dark and Hot was released in 1998 to critical and commercial satisfaction. The album sold 251,000 copies during its first week. [5][6] In 1999, DMX released... and Then There Was X. The album included the hit song "Party up (Up in Here). His singles from 2003 "Where the Hood At?" and "X I'm Going to Give It To Ya" were also commercially successful. The artist was the first in history to make an album debut that reached No.1 on the Billboard 200 charts five times consecutively. Seven times DMX has sold more than 74 million records worldwide. [8] DMX was featured in films such as Belly, Romeo Must Die, Exit Wounds, Cradle 2 the Grave as well as Last Hour. He appeared in the 2006 reality television series DMX. Soul of a Man. It was broadcast by the BET cable channel Never Die Alone. He wrote E.A.R.L., his memoirs in 2003. The Autobiography of DMX. 9. DMX was just 14 when he started beatboxing at Ready Ron. After getting a sentence for the stealing of a dog, he began to compose his own lyrics. He also performed at a local recreation center for kids younger than 14 years old. While in prison for carjacking, the majority of his time writing lyrics. He also began rapping with K.Solo. 3] After he was released in the summer of 1988, he began making and selling his own mixtapes where he performed raps over music from other songs. He also sold them on streets, which helped him build a fan base locally across New York. Percee P as well as DMX were featured on The Stretch Armstrong and Bobbito Show 1991, where they improvised. [15] DMX would later that year release a demo cassette that featured "Spellbound" along with "Critical Condition", "Three Little Pigs", "The Original Author of Spellbound" and "Unstoppable Force". Its design was like Big Daddy Kane's and Rakim's but different from his later music. Three years ago, The Source magazine praised DMX as a member of its Unsigned Hype column, that showcased hip-hop artists who were not signed. 16] In the same year, Columbia Records signed DMX to its subsidiary label Ruffhouse Records, which released his first single "Born Loser". [17] His second single, "Make A Move" was released in the year 1994. Jay-Z, Ja Rules, and Mic Gérardo appeared as guest performers on the underground hit "Time to Build" by Mic Geronimo in 1995. DMX died of a cocaine-induced heartattack on April 9 2021.