Short Biography

Earl Simmons (born December 18, 1970), better known by his stage name DMX, is an American rapper and actor who rose to fame in the late 1990s. His stage name stand for Dark Man X, the name he used when he first started rapping in 1990. To date, his best-selling album was his 1999 album ...And Then There Was X, which featured the hit single "Party Up (Up in Here)". As an actor, he also starred in the films Belly, Exit Wounds, Romeo Must Die, Cradle 2 the Grave, and Last Hour, and his own reality television series Soul of a Man on the American cable television network BET. In 2002, DMX wrote an autobiographical book titled E.A.R.L.: The Autobiography of DMX. He also has an extensive arrest record.
Born in Mount Vernon, NY, DMX relocated early in his childhood with some family members to Yonkers, a city just north of New York City. He spent much time either on the streets committing crime selling drugs or living in group homes.[1] However, he considered hip hop to be an escape from his hard times, as he enjoyed beatboxing, turntablism, and eventually rapping with famed rapper Just Ice. The initials DMX originate from an earlier stage name of Dark Man X.

[edit] Music career
In 1991, The Source magazine praised him in its "Unsigned Hype" column that highlighted unsigned hip-hop artists. Later, he was signed to the Columbia Records subsidiary Ruffhouse in 1992; under that label he released his debut single "Born Loser", which did not get much airplay. However, Ruffhouse promoted many other artists on its roster rather than DMX and so agreed to release him from his contract eventually. In 1994, he released a second single, "Make a Move", but later that year was arrested for drug possession.

In 1997, Simmons earned a second major-label shot with Def Jam, and made a successful guest appearance on LL Cool J`s "4, 3, 2, 1." Additional guest spots on Mase`s "24 Hours to Live" and The LOX`s "Money, Power & Respect" created an even stronger buzz

Miscellaneous Information

Distinctive Features

His energetic rapping style.

Wearing a silver dog coller.

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