DMX reportedly in grave condition after “overdose”

I’ve received early reports that DMX, the rapper whose real name is Earl Simmons has suffered severe health complications. Anyone alive during the late nineties would remember DMX for his explosive arrival onto the rap and hip hop scene. His debut album “It’s Dark and Hell is Hot” dropped in 1998 and had several memorable tracks including “Get at me dog”, “Stop being greedy”, “Ruff Ryders Anthem”, and “How’s it going down”.

He had a unique style that was simply his own. The music got a person excited and made you want to go tear into something. His arrival was also at a time when some rappers were turning to the “brag rap” scene, which I never really cared for. DMX was rough and rugged, and he rapped about street life in a way that celebrated the street life, but with a noble sense about it.

DMX moved fast and dropped his second album “Flesh of my flesh, blood of my blood” on Decemeber 22, 1998. It had only been seven months since his number one debut release and he was able to hit another one out of the park, with “Flesh of my flesh, blood of my blood” which debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 200 and stayed there for the next three weeks. The album would go on to certified Platinum status four times over.

DMX didn’t rest on the victories of the past, like so many have done before. He kept grinding out the music that people around the country were clamoring to hear. In an unbelievable feat, DMX dropped his third album “And then there was X” on December 21st of 1999. Once again the album debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 200. The album would eventually do six times Platinum.

On October 23, 2001 DMX dropped his fourth album “The Great Depression” and just like the first three albums, he debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 200. It achieved critical acclaim and commercial success, but for the first time, the album did slightly less better in sales than the first three.

DMX eventually released “Grand Champ” and just like his previous four releases, it debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 200, making DMX the only performer in history to release five #1 albums in a row. It is an amazing thing and virtually unattainable, and yet he was able to do so with his supreme talent and bold charisma. There would be many more releases over the years, but nothing that could stand next to the fiery arrival.

Over the years DMX had a complicated relationship with substance abuse, which began at a young age. On February 10th, 2016 he was found unresponsive in a parking lot in Yonkers. It was reported this morning that DMX has been rushed to a hospital in White Plains after an possible overdose in his New York home.

Mike Shepard

ROX-TV Head Writer

shepard2909@hotmail.com

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