Earl Simmons, otherwise known as DMX (Dark Man X) was an American rapper, songwriter, and actor who began his musical career in the early 1990s. At the height of his success, he presented one of the most high-profile expressions of vulnerability in hip-hop. Simmons was one of the very few rappers talented enough to cause Jay-Z to lose his flow, meanwhile, in an era run by the shiny suits of Puff Daddy and yuppy culture, DMX paved a path to the mainstream for a generation of rappers that would follow. Kendrick Lamar has repeatedly stated that DMX played a huge part in his rap education, with his dialogue in “Lucy” on his highly acclaimed album ‘To Pimp A Butterfly’ paying homage to the late hero.
Simmons’ upbringing was challenging, but proved to be the making of him. His biological father was never in the picture, whilst his mother and her various boyfriends would beat him so badly to the point where he lost multiple teeth and sustained numerous bruises and cuts to his face. Due to Simmons’ abusive upbringing, X would often sleep rough, befriending stray dogs, companions that would later come to define his life and musical style.
Shortly after X began sleeping rough, his mother sent him to a group home. During this stay, Simmons bonded with other students from New York, embracing with one another over their shared love of Hip-Hop. DMX got his break…
