Earl Simmons, or more commonly known as DMX, was one of the most iconic people in the rap and hip-hop community, even starring in movies like Belly, Cradle 2 The Grave, Never Die Alone, and many more. He began his career in the early ’90s by releasing his first album, It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot, in 1998. A few of his most popular songs are “X Gon’ Give It To Ya’,” “Where The Hood At,” and “Ruff Ryders Anthem”. DMX influenced the rap community in many ways by introducing his ‘gangsta’ rap style, popularizing motorbikes and dogs in hip hop, and acknowledging drug addictions in his music, including his own addictions. DMX achieved many feats and did lots of things that were seen as out of the ordinary at the time, like releasing a second album in the same year he released the first one. That same album, Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood, debuted at No.1 on the Billboard 200, making him the first musician and artist to ever achieve the seemingly impossible feat. One of DMX’s latest albums, released in  2017, is Dog Eats Rabbit, a collaboration with Blackburner. The album consists of trap, dubstep, and vicious spit lyrics.

His career ended on April 9, 2021 when DMX passed away from cardiac arrest. Even though he left us earlier than anyone wanted, he did reportedly leave us with an album before he passed away. He will be memorialized forever by the impact that he left on the culture of hip-hop.