Earl Simmons (born on December 18, 1970 in Baltimore, Maryland), better known by his stage name DMX, rose to popularity in the late-1990s. He is the 6th highest selling rapper of all time, though notably never having a top 20 Hot 100 single. He is also the only artist in the U.S. to have six consecutive number one albums on the Billboard 200 Album chart to start a career.

Following the deaths of Tupac Shakur and the Notorious B.I.G., DMX took over as the reigning, undisputed king of hardcore rap. He was that rare commodity: a commercial powerhouse with artistic and street credibility to spare. His rapid ascent to stardom was actually almost a decade in the making, which gave him a chance to develop the theatrical image that made him one of rap’s most distinctive personalities during his heyday. Everything about DMX was unremittingly intense, from his muscular,