DMX (rapper)

Earl Simmons born December 18, 1970, better known by his stage names DMX and Dark Man X, is an American rapper and actor. In 1999, DMX released his bestselling album ...And Then There Was X, which featured the hit single Party Up Up in Here. He has acted in films such as Belly, Romeo Must Die, Exit Wounds, Cradlethe Grave, and Last Hour. In 2006, he starred in the reality television series DMX Soul of a Man, which was primarily aired on the BET cable television network. In 2003, DMX published a book of his memoirs entitled, E.A.R.L. The Autobiography of DMX.

DMX began in 1988 as a beatboxer. In 1991, Gabriel Grevenstuk from The Source magazine praised DMX in his Unsigned Hype column that highlighted unsigned hiphop artists. In 1991 he recorded his first demos, Unstoppable Force and Three Little Pigs. His stage name was a tribute to an instrument he used in the 1980s, the Oberheim DMX drum machine, and later was interpreted as Dark Man X.In 1992, Columbia Records signed DMX to their subsidiary label Ruffhouse, who released his debut single Born Loser. The single did not get much airplay.citation needed The label eventually agreed to release DMX from their contract. He released his second single, Make a Move in 1994, and made a guest appearance alongside JayZ, Ja Rule, and Mic Geronimo on the classic underground track Time To Build on Mic Geronimos debut album in 1995. He also appeared on LL Cool Js single 4, 3, 2,in 1997. Additional guest spots on Mase singlesHrs. to Live and Take Whats Yours, and The LOXs single Money, Power amp Respect created a strong buzz. DMX also made a cameo appearance in the Sum 41 music video for Makes No Difference. ........

Source: Wikipedia