Obituaries Detail

DMX, born Earl Simmons, beatboxed for another rapper before beginning to write his own lyrics and perform. DMX’s mixtapes helped build his popularity around New York, and he began being featured on other rappers’ releases, including LL Cool J’s 1991 single “4, 3, 2, 1.” His raspy growl of a voice was distinctive and immediately recognizable.

By the late ‘90s, DMX had a recording contract with Def Jam Records, and he released his first solo hit in 1998, “Get at Me Dog.” His debut album, “It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot,” entered the Billboard chart at No. 1, and so did his next four albums. His third album, “…And Then There Was X,” included the 2000 Top-Ten single, “Party Up.”. DMX was nominated for Grammy Awards in 2001 for Best Rap Solo Performance (“Party Up”) and Best Rap Album (“…And Then There Was X”). He earned another Grammy nomination the following year for his single “Who We Be,” and he won the American Music Awards’ Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Artists award two years in a row, in 2000 and 2001.