DMX Checks Into Rehab

According to TMZ, legendary New York rapper, DMX checked into a Southern California Rehab on Thursday, 27th of April. I remember watching an interview of his a couple of months ago and just noticed something off about him. It was like he had lost his cognitive skills...there was just something wrong. 

DMX has been battling drug addiction for several years now, and it was more evident in his poor performances during his recent shows that he still had a serious drug problem. He has gone on to cancel all future shows right now, and his manager, Pat Gallo had this to say about DMX's state of health. 

“It is important right now that he take some time off to focus on his health so that he can be a better father, friend and entertainer. We are eternally grateful for the outpouring of concern and support that has poured in. We ask that you please keep X in your prayers as he embraces your support.”

I wish him all the best. X was at one time a top tier rapper...both lyrically and commercially. 

9 Things You Might Not Know About DMX

DMX remains one of my favorite rap artists of all time. I love rappers that do this rap thing from the heart, and not just play around with it. I think we forget hip hop heroes so fast. Someone new drops a hot album, and people are quick to name him the greatest rapper of all time, forgetting the many that have released multiple great albums in the past. I think that is unfair to rappers like DMX that (even though he isn't what he once was) put in so much work at his peak...having 5 albums, back to back debut at number 1. on the Billboard albums chart, and all attaining platinum status isn't something to be overlooked.


Today, I decided to write an article celebrating this great man, and letting the new rap listeners know about some dope rappers that came before the Meek Mill's, the Drake's, and the Lil Uzi Vert's. I am going to list 9 things you might not know about Dark Man X (DMX)...the good, the bad, and the ugly. So...here we go again...

Classic Video of the Day: Grand Finale (DMX feat. Methodman, Nas, and Jarule)

This is one of the songs off the soundtrack of the movie, Belly, which was released in 1998, and starred DMX, Nas, Methodman, T-Boz...

DMX Speaks on How he Stays True to Himself

DMX might have his ups and downs, bad finances, drug related issues and all, but I still consider him one of the greatest rappers in Hip Hop history. During a recent radio interview on a New York radio station, he was asked by the interviewer about the challenges he faces being an older rapper. And he took time out to explain how he has been able to stay true to himself in the ever changing world of Hip Hop music.






 "I don't watch any videos (hip hop videos) cos I don't want to be subliminally influenced...I don't get caught up in like, you know once they start doing...off the the deep end with their slangs, with their dressing and everything, it's like 'I ain't really going to be mad at you for doing it, but I'm not gonna do that.' You know what I mean? So...I stay in my lane. I do what I know how to do, how I know how to do it. We stop at the gas station, and I blaize a 16 in like 15 minutes." (The Breakfast Club Interview)

Why Do Most Hip Hop Listeners Have Such Short Memory?

I was just thinking of a certain rapper who came in the game barely four years ago, and people are already labeling him the greatest of all time. Like, chill! Let him drop his second, and third albums, and then you can consider putting him in top 5 greatest rappers of all time list. Even at that, it would still be a stretch. But it seems, in Hip Hop these days, people are more concerned with the hottest rappers right now, and forget to mention rappers that have done a lot for Hip Hop in the past. Like, right now, if you see lists of top 10 greatest rappers of all time, rappers from the very late 90s and 2000s are completely left out of the list.

Okay. I know rappers like DMX are no-longer on the scene, but how can you completely overlook what he brought to the table? How can you forget his discography? How can you forget the fact that his first 5 albums went straight to NUMBER ONE on Billboard Top 200 albums chart when they were released? No other rapper has done that in Hip Hop history. How can you forget his mad skills on the mic...his consistency (dropping two albums in a year, and both going multi-platinum?). One of the hardest rappers to ever hold the mic, but yet he had a message in most of his songs. It is stuff like this that make me take breaks from the Hip Hop scene sometimes.

Classic Hip Hop Pic of the Day

Check out our classic Hip Hop pic of the day...Redman, DMX, Methodman, and Jay Z.

Sales of All DMX Albums

I don't like how this new generation of hip hop listeners don't get to hear about the greatness of rappers like DMX. Yes, he might be going through his drug problems right now, but X has to be in the top 50 Greatest Rappers Of All Time list. Apart from being a very skilled rapper, he also had a commercially successful career through the late 90s to the early 2000s.





I have decided to list all DMX's albums along with the sales of each individual album. You should know that their was a year X dropped two albums in the space of 7 months apart, and they bought sold over double platinum that same year. Out of his seven solo albums, five of them made their debut at the number one position on Billboard's top 200 album chart...that is 5 Number One albums.




It's Dark and Hell Is Hot (1998)- 4,000,000

Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood (1998)- 3,000,000

And Then There Was X (1999)- 5,000,000

The Great Depression (2000)- 1,300,000

Grand Champ (2003)- 1,000,000

Year of the Dog...Again (2006)- 350,000

Undisputed (2012)- 45,000

Russell Simmons Speaks on Biggest Disappoint as Head of Def Jam Records

Russell Simmons is co-founder of the legendary Def Jam Records, and was the C.E.O of the company for many years. In a recent interview on Hot 97 radio, he was asked what his biggest disappoint is from his Def Jam days, and he said, it was watching artists not reaching their full potentials. He named DMX as one of the artists on Def Jam he felt didn't reach his full potential. X had a very successful career in the late 90s and early 2000s on Def Jam, but started to fall off the scene shortly after he released his 4th album (The Great Depression) in 2001.






Read Russell Simmons words on DMX below.

“Things that disappoint me are people that didn’t get to achieve all their greatness in some cases. Like I’ve experienced watching brilliant artists not become all they could have been. DMX is the number one I can think of. Cause he was brilliant…He was just amazing. And he said amazing stuff. And he was a great vocalist. And a great artist and a great everything. And, you know, people make choices that make it more difficult for them to continue to be great. And some make choices that make them make it easier to continue to be great. And I’ve seen many people and their entourages destroyed them. And I’ve seen people who have had to shed some of their entourage in order to keep going. My entourage that [I] kinda needed to shed died [or] went to jail.” (Hot 97)

Boxing Match Between George Zimmerman and DMX Cancelled

After it was announced 2 weeks ago that George Zimmerman and DMX would have a celebrity boxing match, organized by Match 1, a lot of people couldn't wait for it to go down. But, there were also some people that thought the idea was inappropriate, and as such, it has been cancelled. Al Sharpton, one of the people against the Match asked when George Zimmerman became a celebrity.

Below are words from DMX's (Domenick Nati) publicist concerning this-

Damon Feldman has announced that the George Zimmerman fight is cancelled via his Twitter. As previously stated, DMX never agreed to the fight and we thank you for all of the support from DMX’s fans. This situation will not affect any of DMX’s upcoming concerts in America or around the world.

Geroge Zimmerman Agrees to Fight DMX

A couple of days ago, Geroge Zimmerman entered into March 1's Celebrity Boxing March event, and a lot of people have showed interest in getting in the ring with him. It was first speculated that he would be fighting Compton rapper, Game, but things have changed, and the organizers of the event say he actually agreed to fight DMX.

Read the news below-

Let's get ready to ... mumble. As in, what now, George Zimmerman? Seems like the former neighborhood watchman has found yet another way to remain in the public limelight. This time, he'll be stepping into a boxing ring to fight rapper DMX. Early Wednesday morning, Feldman said he's picked the contender. Out of more than 15,000 e-mailed requests, he's going with DMX. "The match will be one of the Biggest Celebrity Boxing matches of all time," his news release said (uppercase emphasis his). But in order to find out where and when it will take place, we'll have to wait until next week. (CNN)

Reps for DMX has responded concerning this news, and say it ain't official yet. They said X hasn't seen the documents on the fight, and that until he sees the terms, nothing is set in concrete. Lets wait and see how things turn out in the next couple of days.

DJ Kay Slay Recalls The First Day He Met DMX

You know Kay Slay has been around for a very long time, and he is doing his thing till this day. In a recent interview, he recalls meeting DMX for the first time, and what transpired on that day. This was probably some time in the mid 90s, cos he said X had not dropped his debut album then.





"First time I met DMX, right before his album came out, X hit me. I'd been trying to get him to do the freestyle for a minute. So finally, he was coming through...When he showed up, he had his man with him, and two broads. I open the door, we goin' up the stairs, and he like, 'Uh, Slay, you gotta excuse me. Picked these two dirty bitches up on Broadway.' I looked, they was like, 'Oh, shit, fuck you tryin' to play us for? Fuck you, motherfucker!' I'm like, damn, shit's crazy."


"So we get upstairs and shit. His man says, 'Can I use the bathroom?' I go, 'Go ahead.' His man go in the bathroom... come out looking crazy. I'm like alright, whatever, I ain't pay it no mind. The nigga go back in the bathroom again... this nigga in my fuckin' bathroom beamin! Hittin' the pipe, smokin' crack. So X barked on this nigga. 'I'm sayin', you crazy? You in my man's house! You can't do that."


"When he was getting ready to rhyme, he hit the light. So I hit the light back on. 'Why are you turning the light off, man?' 'I'm Dark Man! I need the lights off, know what I'm saying? I let him cut the light out. Nigga start growling like a dog, barking, all that shit. [Spit] one of the meanest verses I ever heard. Then the nigga takes his shirt off. I'm saying to myself, 'How do I get this nigga out my fuckin' house?' ...So I was like, 'Yo man, we ain't gotta do another freestyle.' Put his shit on. After that, I gave a nigga a pound and we parted ways. But yeah, that had to be one of the crazy experiences that I've been through. ...Shouts out to my man, DMX." (VladTV's True Hip Hop Stories)





Hahaha!!! Very funny shit.

DMX Is Broke

Even though his last album sold less than 50k total, I still thought DMX was caking up with tours or something. For someone that was the financial savior of Def Jam Records arround the late 90s, it is hard to believe he is currently broke. On Monday, DMX filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy.





"The rapper DMX filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, court records show, days after his arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence. Filed Monday in the Manhattan bankruptcy court, the Chapter 11 petition of Earl Simmons, aka DMX, lists less than $50,000 in assets and $1 million to $10 million in debt. The rapper said in court papers that he filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, which is available to both businesses and consumers, "to enable me to reorganize my financial affairs." (Wall Street Journal)"








Well, I hope he can reorganize his life, cos I am a big fan. Even his last album (Undisputed) was real dope.

Official First Week Sales of DMX's "Undisputed" Album

I think DMX needs to start building again from here. Even though this album got very low promotions, I was expecting it would sell at least 40k copies first week. Undisputed is DMX's 7th album, and after a full week in stores, it sold 17,000 copies.

Back in the days, DMX went GOLD in first week in stores with his albums. His last album, which also didn't get much promotion, Year of The Dog (2006), sold 125k first week. I guess times have really changed. As I said, he needs to start rebuilding from here.  But, the album really is cool.




The album dropped last week Tuesday, 11th September.

First Week Sales Prediction of DMX's "Undisputed" Album

DMX once released two albums in one year (It's Dark and Hell Is Hot & Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood- both in 1998) back in the 90s, and they both went multi-platinum. But, even the hard-core DMX fans have to admit that those days are gone. I heard a couple of tracks from his latest album, Undisputed which dropped yesterday (Sept 11), and I have to admit that I was surprised at how good they sounded. But, he has been away for far too long. His last album- Year of The Dog...Again- was released August of 2006, and it sold 125,000 first week. I would put this latest album at 50-80k first week.


His publicist, last week let the world know that the proceeds from the first week sales will go to the families of those affected by the 9/11 bombing 11 years ago.









Check out the tracklist of the album below-

1. Look Without Seein’ (prod. by Elite)
2. What They Don't Know (prod. by Swizz Beatz)
3. Cold World (prod. by Grease & Snaz)
4. I Don't Dance featuring Machine Gun Kelly (prod. by J.R. Rotem)
5. Sucka For Love (prod. by Deezle)
6. I Get Scared (prod. by Grease)
7. Slippin' Again (prod. by Bird)
8. Prayer (Skit) (prod. by X)
9. I'm Back (prod. by Bird)
10. Have You Eva (prod. by Grease)
11. Get Your Money Up (Explicit Version Only)
12. Head Up (prod. by Tronzilla)
13. Frankenstein (prod. by Caviar)
14. Ya'll Don't Really Know (prod. by Swizz Beatz)
15. I Got Your Back (prod. by Caviar)
16. No Love (prod. by Grease & Snaz)
17. Already (prod. by Divine Bars)

Bonus Tracks

18. Fire
19. Fuck U Bitch
20. Love That Bitch

DMX "The Weigh In" EP Tracklist, Cover-Art and Download Link

DMX has been through a lot of trouble times in the last couple of years; going in out of jail, but i guess he is back to stay now. He  hasn't dropped an album since 2006's Year of The Dog...Again, but he is ready to give his fans some good music. He is scheduled to drop a new album (Undisputed) June 26th, before then, he will drop a free EP today titled The Weigh In. You can download it here- The Weigh In

1. The Weigh In Intro

2. Were I Wanna Be Feat. Big Stan (Produced By Niam Son)

3. Shit Dont Change Feat. Snoop Dogg (Produced By Dr Dre)

4. Last Hope Skit

5. Last Hope Feat. Andreena Mills (Produced By Rich Kid)

6. Lil Wayne Interlude

7. Were My Dogs At (Produced By Wayno)

8. Tyrese Speaks

9. That's My Baby Feat. Tyrese

10. Right Or Wrong (Produced By Dame Grease)

11. Dj Envy Interlude

Men! I wish he could come back strong like And There Was X (2000) strong. I think that was DMX's peak. That album was just incredible...i still jam to the album now, and i don't skip one track. I know times have changed, and people are not feeling that style any more, but if he can just come with that energy and dedication, i would love it.

DMX Ready to Make a Strong Comeback; Features Biggie on Upcoming Undisputed Album

DMX is Hip Hop Royalty as far as i am concerned. No matter what people say, or how he tends to get out of control sometimes; when he gets his head right, he always comes correct. I remember reading back in late 90s, that DMX was one of the artists that saved Def Jam in its rough times with his phenomenal sales. He released two albums; It's Dark and Hell Is Hot & Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood in the same year (1998)...both albums sold over 5 million copies individually worldwide. DMX and Tupac are the only rappers in history to have two albums released in the same calendar year to chart at number 1. For Tupac, it was All Eyez on Me and The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory, both released in 1996.



DMX has not released an album since Year of The Dog...Again in 2006, which was his 6th album. He has been in and out Jail since then, but since he got out last year, he has been working on his 7th album, Undisputed , which is slated to drop June 26th. If this date doesn't get changed, i would really love to get a new album from X. And the fact that he is featuring the Late Notorious B.I.G on it intrigues me. Cos, i don't see their styles mixing...i would love to hear how it comes out.


Below is the news on his Undisputed album-

“X is very excited to release this project,” said DMX’s publicist, Domenick Nati. “This album has a lot of hits on it, and his fans will see that it’s been worth the wait. Undisputed will prove to the world that DMX is back!”


DMX has kept busy since his release from prison in 2011 with numerous concert appearances and a highly-publicized stint on VH1′s “Couples Therapy”.




The video for his first single “I Don’t Dance” featuring Machine Gun Kelly will be released in mid-May, and thealbum’s next single will include an appearance from deceased rap legend, Notorious B.I.G. (allhiphop.com)

DMX Talks About Aaliyah

On Aug 25, 2001, 10 years ago, r&b singer Aaliyah had just finished filming the video of her "Rock The Boat" single in The Bahamas, and she and her crew decided to travel back to the States immidiately, instead of waiting till the next day. The whole crew, including Aaliyah, boarded a Cessna 402 with all their equipments, instead of the 404 Cessna they had flown in from The States. Minutes after take-off at just 200 feet, the plane crashed because it was over its maximum takeoff weight by 320kg. DMX and Aaliyah were close, and he remembers Aaliyah in a recent interview-


...X was interviewed on BET's 106 and Park, honoring the singer on the 10-year anniversary of her death.
When asked about his fondest memory of Aaliyah, DMX recalled, "It was one of the awards shows out in L.A. that we went to together. Me, her, and her brother, actually. Up until then, I had never went to any award show with anyone but my wife. I rented the convertible, Rolls Royce, and I just made the movie, you know? We had a good time."
Describing Aaliyah as talented and an "angel," X revealed a special tribute to the singer: the rapper named his youngest daughter Aaliyah.
"This is Aaliyah," said X, showing his daughter to fans. "That's how special she was to me."
"Know that you're named after an angel," added the Yonkers emcee, speaking to his daughter.


Men!!! I ain't gonna lie, out of all the celebrities that passed in the last 3 decades, Aaliyah's death got to me the most. Imagine how she must have felt just before she died...autopsy showed that she suffered severe shock. DMX and Aaliyah must have gotten close from the set of "Romeo Must Die". May her soul rest in peace.

DMX Comments On New Album

After being released a couple of weeks ago, July 19 to be precise, DMX (Real name; Earl Simmons), has come forward to speak on the new album he is working on, and what fans and the general public should be expecting from him. The album is to be titled, Redemption of The Beast, and is his 7th studio album. All DMX's albums have been multi-platinum selling projects, except for the last one, Year of The Dog...Again (2006), which was not marketed properly. At that point in his life, X had already started going in and out of jail for very flimsy reasons.

Read what he had to say about his new album below-

"I kind of took it back to how I felt on my first album -- the hunger, the energy, the hardness of it," says the 40-year-old rapper (real name: Earl Simmons), who was released from prison on July 19. "I've had a lot of late nights in the studio, getting it in, getting it back to where it's supposed to be," says DMX, whose last album, 2006's "Year of the Dog... Again," has sold 344,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The rapper also notes that the lyrical focus of the album will be "bringing hip-hop back to where it's supposed to be. It's not at a good place right now... [There's] a lot of whack rappers out there. It's too corny." (Billboard)

As much as i am a fan of DMX's music, i think it would be a bit hard for people to accept him, because his style is not what the general majority cling for in the music scene right now. Of course, people like me that grew up listening to him would appreciate his comeback, but we don't constitute the majority any more. Most of the people listening to rap right now...most of the people buying rap records right now are teenagers that want to hear some Drake, or lil wayne, or nicki minaj...i think Rick Ross is the only gangsta rapper that can still sell records right now. DMX got a deal offer from Ross to join his Maybach Music Group; maybe that wouldn't be a bad idea. On the other hand, i might be wrong; X might just come out with a banging single, and the majority might see as a new sound, and just swing over to his side. Right now, the listeners have a very short attention life-span.

Ja Rule Gets More Jail Time

Ja Rule is presently serving time for gun possession charges, but more time has been added to that. On Monday, he was sentenced to 28 months on tax evasion charges. I just wonder why so many rappers always get caught in this web.


Rapper Jeffrey Atkins, also known as Ja Rule, was sentenced Monday to 28 months in prison for failing to file tax returns with the IRS after admitting that he did not file his taxes for five years, the Justice Department said in a news release Monday. The 35-year-old performer from Saddle River, New Jersey, had pleaded guilty to three of five counts before U.S. Magistrate Judge Patty Shwartz, who imposed the sentence in Newark federal court. (CNN)

Prior to receiving his sentence, Rule defended his past financial mistakes.
"I in no way attempted to deceive the government or do anything illegal," he said, minutes before being sentenced in a New Jersey federal court. "I was a young man who made a lot of money -- I'm getting a little choked up -- I didn't know how to deal with these finances, and I didn't have people to guide me, so I made mistakes." (Associated Press)

It is just so funny that on the same day DMX got out of jail, ja rule got more time on his head. They used to be friends before they bought blew up; then became enemies most part of their individual careers. But i guess they should be cool now. There was no real emotional situation with that one; it wasn't/isn't like the 50 cent and ja rule beef. I think it was just X thinking Jarule was jacking his style. They sound pretty much a-like on wax.

Check out what DMX said about his relationship with Ja Rule below-


...It was like, I was sitting in the front and his wife was behind me. And I looked back and I spoke to her. And when I turned around again—actually I was getting up to leave and he was sitting there. So people were already looking at us and knew that I didn’t know he was behind me. It was quiet. So when I turned around and seen him, I could feel all the eyes on me. And I was like ‘Yo watup man’ and gave him a pound and everybody started clapping...



...spoke briefly right there, but later on at the hotel we took a couple of flicks together. We cool, but he’s just not the type of nigga that I would hang with. He never was the type of nigga I would hang with. But we was cool. I’d work with you, and yeah we can go to the studio, but we just two different people.  



I like how X is very direct with how he feels; he has nothing against ja rule any more, but it don't mean they would be hanging out together.

DMX Released From Jail

DMX Was released from jail yesterday; i think that is great news. I just hope he stays out of trouble long enough to come with some fire. He hasn't released an album in over 5 years now, and people are beginning to crave for his style again. Last month, Rick Ross showed interest in signing X to his Maybach Music Group Label, X just let the word out that he is too big to be signed to ross's label, but he might consider the deal depending on what is in the package. You can read the news here- Rick Ross Wants DMX On Maybach Records

Read the full info on DMX's release below-

Rap star DMX is officially a free man, as the rapper was released from prison in Yuma, Arizona today (July 19th).

The rapper was greeted by a small group of friends and family upon his release today.

Sources close to DMX told AllHipHop.com that his first stop would be a visit to his probation officer, followed by a shopping trip.

Then, DMX is slated to take up residency in an unknown area of the state.

"I spoke to my daughter, I just got off the phone with my wife," DMX told AllHipHop.com in an exclusive interview. "I'm going to go see my daughter while the sun is up then I'm going to be in the studio man."

DMX, born Earl Simmons, was originally sentenced to one year in prison in December of 2010, after he violated his probation by refusing to submit to a drug test and other minor infractions.

He served seven months of the prison sentence, after being given credit for the 100 days he spent incarcerated awaiting trial.

“Our goal is to keep DMX on the right track, and get him back to work,” a member of DMX's inner circle told AllHipHop.com.

According to sources, DMX is currently lining up a number of shows and fielding offers for television, movie and recording projects.

Reps for DMX confirmed that he was in serious negotiations with Rick Ross' Maybach Music Group, although an official offer has yet to be made.

DMX is being managed by Built For War Management/UMMG (United Music & Media Group), while his bookings are handled by Carl "Blacksmif" Smith.

"Earl has so much more to offer the world. His latest project has been on hold for so long! It is now time for X to redefine the world of Hip-Hop with his highly anticipated album of inspirational, painful & street accredited rhymes. It is time to let the Dog out of the kennel," added his manager Nakia Walker.

If he can get his act together, and stay focused, i think he can make a good comeback.