DMX

Earl Simmons (December 18, 1970 – April 9, 2021), known professionally as DMX (Dark Man X), was a pivotal figure in hardcore hip-hop. Emerging from Yonkers, New York, he became one of the most commercially successful and influential rappers of the late 1990s and early 2000s. His work was defined by a signature gravelly delivery and lyrics that frequently balanced aggressive street narratives with profound spiritual reflection.

Born in Mount Vernon and raised in the School Street housing projects of Yonkers, Simmons faced a difficult upbringing marked by time spent in group homes and frequent legal struggles. He began his musical journey as a beatboxer in his early teens, eventually transitioning into rapping. His stage name was inspired by the Oberheim DMX drum machine, though he later interpreted the acronym as "Dark Man of the Unknown."