DMX

 American actor and rapper Earl Simmons, born December 18, 1970, and died April 9 2021. The rapper began rapping in early 1990s . He released his debut album It's Dark and Hell is Hot in 1998 to both critical acclaim and commercial success. He sold over 251,000 copies within its first week of its release. The most-sold album by DMX,... and Then there was X, was released in 1999. The album also featured the hit single "Party Up (Up In Here). His singles in 2003, "Where is the Hood At?" Commercially as well as his 2003 singles "Where the Hood At?" and "X Gon' give It to Ya" were also extremely successful. The artist was the first to debut an album at No.1 five times in a row on the Billboard 200 charts. 7. DMX has sold over 74,000,000 records all over the world. [8] DMX has appeared in movies such as Belly Romeo Must Die (with Exit Wounds), Belly, Romeo Must Die (with Belly), Cradle 2 the Grave (with Cradle 2 the Grave) and Last Hour. He appeared in the 2006 reality television series DMX. Soul of a Man. It was primarily aired by the BET cable channel Never Die Alone. The show was followed by E.A.R.L., his memoirs in 2003.  The Autobiography of DMX. 9 DMX started in the music business at age 14 as a beatboxer for Ready Ron. After serving time for the theft of the dog, he started to compose his own lyrics. He also played at the local recreation center for kids less than 14 years old. While in prison for carjacking he spent almost all his time writing lyrics. He also began rapping with K.Solo. He was released in summer of 1988 and started to release and market mixtapes of his own. In these mixes, his raps were a re-mix of songs by other artists and then sold them on street corners. This helped him develop a local fanbase all across New York. Percee P as well as DMX both did freestyles on The Stretch Armstrong and Bobbito Show, 1991. [15] DMX would later that year release a demo cassette that featured "Spellbound" alongside "Critical Condition", "Three Little Pigs", "The Original Author of Spellbound" and "Unstoppable Force". The style was similar to Big Daddy Kane's style and Rakim's, yet it was distinct from his later work. [3] In 1991 The Source magazine praised DMX as a member of its Unsigned Hype column that featured hip-hop artists who were not signed.  In 1991, Columbia Records signed DMX as a subsidiary label for Ruffhouse Records. The single, "Born Loser", was his first single. 17 years later, his second single, "Make A Move" was released in the year 1994. Jay-Z, Ja Rules, and Mic Gérardo appeared as guests on the underground hit "Time to Build" by Mic Geronimo in the year 1995. DMX died of a cocaine-induced heartattack on April 9, 2021.