Earl Simmons (born December 18, 1970), better known by his stage name DMX, is an American rapper and actor who rose to popularity in the late 1990s. His stage name is derived from a similarly-named drum machine. He is known as one of the best selling rap artists, with over 55 million of his albums sold worldwide including over 30 million sold in the United States alone[1]and on the Guinness Book of World Records for being the only artist ever to have five consecutive albums to debut at #1 on the Billboard charts. 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 Baltimore, Maryland, DMX relocated early in his childhood with some family members to Yonkers, a suburb just outside of New York City. He spent much time either on the streets committing crime selling drugs or living in group homes. Hip-hop, however, was 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. 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. At the age of 17 he was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. In early 1998, he released his debut major-label single under Def Jam Recordings, “Get At Me Dog”, which was certified gold by the RIAA. His first major-label album It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot was released in May 1998 and debuted on the top spot on the Billboard 200 chart in the U.S. It earned Simmons numerous comparisons to Tupac Shakur and sold over four million copies. Soon after the release of the album, DMX was nearly arrested for raping a stripper in the Bronx but was cleared by DNA evidence. In 1999, DMX joined rappers Jay-Z, Method Man and Redman for Jay-Z’s Hard Knock Life tour. DMX was arrested but later cleared of a stabbing that occurred at a tour stop in Denver, Colorado; he was also cleared of an assault charge back at his hometown of Yonkers. However, in the summer of 1999, DMX and his wife were arrested and charged for animal cruelty and possession of drugs and weapons after his manager uncle was accidentally shot at a hotel in New Jersey. Eventually, he successfully plea-bargained simply for fines, probation, and community service..