Rapper DMX Made It Cool To Be Vulnerable
He leaves behind a powerful legacy of passion and vulnerability
DMX (real name Earl Simmons) aka Dark Man X, has passed away April 9th, 2021, age 50, from an apparent drug overdose and heart attack and I don't know how to deal.
I didn't want to write today, but here I am attempting to craft words to eulogize the life and legacy of one of my favorite rappers of all time.
I was first introduced to DMXs music in the ’90s by my dad.
At that time, I was growing a steady roster of top rap artists that spoke to my formative teenage years. The likes of Jay-Z, Nas, 2pac, Foxy Brown, Lil Kim, Diddy, and The Notorious B.I.G, were on easy repeat.
I will never forget the first time I heard the Ruff Ryder anthem and Get at me Dog from his debut album, It’s Dark and Hell is Hot. It was 6 a.m and we were heading to mass.
I was immediately enthralled by this gritty, gravely, hoarse-voiced rapper with punchy, passionate beats and lyrics that simultaneously riled you up, whilst speaking viscerally on pain.
If 2pac is to intelligent social commentary rap, and B.I.G to a Joie de vivre lifestyle, then DMX was the beloved, sweet soul love child of pain and suffering. Like Irv Gotti said, “if you are a…
