God's Poet
April 9, 2021 11:16 PM Subscribe
Earl Simmons, better known by his stage name DMX, has died at the age of 50.
The Yonkers rapper's trademark growl dominated the turn-of-the-millenium scene with hits including Get At Me Dog, X Gon' Give It To Ya, Party Up (Up In Here), Ruff Ryder's Anthem and Where The Hood At? His gruff delivery and tough persona emphasized street authenticity and he leaves a catalog of great club bangers, but he was also in turns candid, vulnerable and spiritual.
At the height of his musical career, his charisma let him branch out into film, including starring roles in Cradle 2 The Grave, Exit Wounds and Romeo Must Die.
Born in 1970, he had a difficult life beginning with childhood abuse and neglect; starting in his teenage years, he battled both addiction and the legal system. DMX was on the road to a comeback starting in 2019 with a well-received Verzuz battle with Snoop Dogg, and re-signing with Def Jam records, the label that launched his career. His confidence shines through in this look back at some of his iconic tracks; “My music isn’t just for the moment, it’s forever.” He is survived by 15 children.
At the height of his musical career, his charisma let him branch out into film, including starring roles in Cradle 2 The Grave, Exit Wounds and Romeo Must Die.
Born in 1970, he had a difficult life beginning with childhood abuse and neglect; starting in his teenage years, he battled both addiction and the legal system. DMX was on the road to a comeback starting in 2019 with a well-received Verzuz battle with Snoop Dogg, and re-signing with Def Jam records, the label that launched his career. His confidence shines through in this look back at some of his iconic tracks; “My music isn’t just for the moment, it’s forever.” He is survived by 15 children.
“He went on to reveal that his journey with drug abuse started at just 14 years old, when his mentor gave him a crack-laced blunt without telling him what he smoked. "He passed the blunt around and... I hit the blunt," he explained, misty eyed. "I never felt like this before it f---ed me up. I later found out that he laced the blunt with crack... Why would you do that to a child? He was like 30 and he knew I looked up to him. Why would you do that to someone who looks up to you?"
From here. I was not aware of this til a few days ago. Really heartbreaking.
posted by girlmightlive at 5:17 AM on April 10, 2021 [12 favorites]
From here. I was not aware of this til a few days ago. Really heartbreaking.
posted by girlmightlive at 5:17 AM on April 10, 2021 [12 favorites]
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posted by SystematicAbuse at 6:32 AM on April 10, 2021
posted by SystematicAbuse at 6:32 AM on April 10, 2021
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posted by grandiloquiet at 7:07 AM on April 10, 2021
posted by grandiloquiet at 7:07 AM on April 10, 2021
Absolutely tragic. Far too young, felt like he still had so much more to give back to hip-hop.
posted by gnutron at 8:03 AM on April 10, 2021
posted by gnutron at 8:03 AM on April 10, 2021
DMX confirmed to fight Trayvon Martin’s killer George Zimmerman in celebrity boxing match
that fight did not happen, unfortunately.
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posted by logicpunk at 8:44 AM on April 10, 2021 [6 favorites]
Speaking about the fight, DMX previously said he would fight for “every black person who has been done wrong in the system”. He continued: “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.”
that fight did not happen, unfortunately.
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posted by logicpunk at 8:44 AM on April 10, 2021 [6 favorites]
Tirhakah Love, What DMX’s Poetry of Death Did for Hip-Hop
If you’ve ever attended a DMX concert, it’s more than likely that you’ve seen him cry. As the adrenaline of the night would cool, the rapper born as Earl Simmons would pray, acting as the intercessor for the holy spirit on behalf of the audience, through a sheet of sweat and tears.posted by Ahmad Khani at 9:30 AM on April 10, 2021 [10 favorites]
Long before he died on Friday at the age of 50, Simmons lived like a man who knew his death was around the corner. Death was a constant — in his lyrics, on his tattooed skin, in his high-risk lifestyle. And it was there in his Christian faith, and in the conversations with God that he invited the world to witness. DMX was obsessed with his own demise, perhaps because, like many Black people in this country, he was haunted by the reality that he would most likely die prematurely.
On a lighter note, when both Upton brothers were traded to Atlanta, this meme came out, and now that's what I hear every time I hear that song.
posted by dirigibleman at 10:25 AM on April 10, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by dirigibleman at 10:25 AM on April 10, 2021 [2 favorites]
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posted by EatTheWeek at 10:42 AM on April 10, 2021
posted by EatTheWeek at 10:42 AM on April 10, 2021
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posted by sleeping bear at 1:32 PM on April 10, 2021
posted by sleeping bear at 1:32 PM on April 10, 2021
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posted by jameaterblues at 2:38 PM on April 10, 2021
posted by jameaterblues at 2:38 PM on April 10, 2021
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posted by little mouth at 2:56 PM on April 10, 2021
posted by little mouth at 2:56 PM on April 10, 2021
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posted by later, paladudes at 3:23 PM on April 10, 2021
posted by later, paladudes at 3:23 PM on April 10, 2021
The funerals, the wakes, the churches, the coffins/
The heartbroken mothers, it happens too often
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posted by box at 3:45 PM on April 10, 2021 [1 favorite]
The heartbroken mothers, it happens too often
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posted by box at 3:45 PM on April 10, 2021 [1 favorite]
He is survived by 15 children.
Bob Marley had eleven children, Bach had (I think) sixteen, (though most died young and he died older than DMX and much older than Marley). I don't want to know more, in the sense that I don't want their privacy invaded by the journalism that would allow me to know more, but when I read a fact like that I think about the lives of and wish well to the children and the mothers/other parents/other caretakers.
posted by sy at 9:36 AM on April 11, 2021
Bob Marley had eleven children, Bach had (I think) sixteen, (though most died young and he died older than DMX and much older than Marley). I don't want to know more, in the sense that I don't want their privacy invaded by the journalism that would allow me to know more, but when I read a fact like that I think about the lives of and wish well to the children and the mothers/other parents/other caretakers.
posted by sy at 9:36 AM on April 11, 2021
"X Gon' Give It To Ya" on Rick and Morty. [CW: violence, steroid abuse, cartoon butts]
posted by Halloween Jack at 8:15 AM on April 13, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by Halloween Jack at 8:15 AM on April 13, 2021 [1 favorite]
There's a little coda to that segment, too (CW: language, violence, Nazis, bullying, animal abuse, Westboro Baptist Church)
posted by box at 10:42 AM on April 13, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by box at 10:42 AM on April 13, 2021 [1 favorite]
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My personal favorite is X Gon' Give It To Ya, which is in the small pantheon of songs that can make me feel like I could run through a fucking brick wall.
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posted by Superilla at 11:22 PM on April 9, 2021 [14 favorites]