ruff ryders

My introduction to Earl “DMX” Simmons was the film Cradle to the Grave where he portrays a father who sets out to save his daughter from kidnappers after a diamond heist goes wrong. I remember my big brother laughing for a solid 5 minutes straight after I told him “that new actor DMX is so cool.” After being taught that DMX is also the “stop drop shut em down open up shop” guy I lost my little mind. I was instantly a lifelong fan, diving into all of his creations and his story. He’s one of those creators that contributed so much to the culture while battling so much internally (he battled addiction for a long time after being tricked into smoking a laced blunt at 14 years old by a “mentor,” abused as a child his first time being arrested was 10 years old) both solidifying and blemishing his legacy. Though I can’t agree with a lot of things he did during his life, there’s no denying his talent. After a lifetime of battling demons I truly hope he’s found his peace.