nothin worse than a smart dumb nigga

Earl Simmons (born December 18, 1970), better known by his stage name DMX, is an American entertainer, who rose to fame in the late 1990s. His stage name stands for Dark Man X, the name he used when he first started rapping in 1990. To date, his best-selling album was his 1999 album And Then There Was X, which featured the hit single "Party Up (Up in Here)". As an actor, he also starred in the films Belly, Exit Wounds, Cradle 2 The Grave, Romeo Must Die and Last Hour, and his own reality television series Soul of a Man on the American cable television network BET. In 2002, DMX wrote an autobiographical book titled E.A.R.L.: The Autobiography of DMX. He also has an extensive arrest record.


Acting career
He has starred in Never Die Alone, which was based on street novelist Donald Goines' book. He is also set to star in three upcoming films. He was set to star in Marble City, but was replaced by Ving Rhames. He has finished filming another action thriller called Last Hour which was released at the end of 2008. Another movie he starred in was Romeo Must Die co-starring next to Jet Li & Aaliyah. He also had a reality show on BET called DMX: Soul of a Man. He will also star in the 2009 Beast, the sequel to Belly. He has finished shooting an upcoming film with Kris Kristofferson titled Lords of the Street, the release date has yet to be set. He can be seen starring alongside Clifton Powell & Vivica A. Fox in a film titled Father of Lies. In 2003 he starred in a movie called Cradle 2 the Grave, as a criminal father trying to save his daughter. In 2001 he starred in Exit Wounds as a thug Latrell Walker who uncovered a team of crooked cops along with Steven Seagal who was transferred to the roughest division in Detroit, division 15.


Criminal record
Since beginning public life as a rapper, DMX has made headlines for multiple arrests, such as for animal cruelty, reckless driving, unlicensed driving, drug possession, and identity falsification. In 1999 officers from the Fort Lee Police Department executed a search of his home, which led to Earl Simmons aka DMX surrendering himself the next day on weapons charges. He has served some jail time, such as a 15-day sentence in 2000 for possession of marijuana and another in 2001 for driving without a license and possession marijuana. His appeal to reduce the 2001 sentence was denied, and he was charged with assault for allegedly throwing objects at prison guards.

In June 2004, he was arrested at the John F. Kennedy International Airport on charges of cocaine possession, criminal impersonation, criminal possession of a weapon, criminal mischief, menacing, and driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol while claiming to be a federal agent and attempting to carjack a vehicle. He was given a conditional discharge on December 8, 2004 but pled guilty on October 25, 2005 to violating parole.

On November 18, 2005, DMX was sentenced to 70 days in jail for violating his parole; the lateness charge caused a 10-day extension from the original 60-day plan. For good behavior, DMX was released from jail early on December 30.

In August 2007, Arizona deputies launched an animal cruelty investigation that concluded in the summer of 2008 when deputies found 12 malnourished dogs, three dogs buried, drugs and a cache of weapons at Simmons' home near Cave Creek, AZ.


In May 2008, DMX was cited for going 114 mph on the Loop 101 in Arizona.

As of December 31, 2008, DMX has pleaded guilty to charges of drug possession, theft and animal cruelty and was sentenced to 90 days. On Feb 22, 2009, while serving his sentence, Simmons was re-booked for aggravated assault after allegedly throwing a dinner tray at a corrections officer and refusing to attend work assignments. If convicted of the assault, he could face a longer sentence in addition to having his probation revoked.

DMX was released from prison in Arizona at approximately 4:00 AM local time on May 14, 2009.


Pastoral Ministry

In 2003, DMX claimed he would stop rapping to pursue preaching. Many criticized his beliefs since many of his albums use vulgarity, violence and racial slurs. According to many sources such as MTV, he semi-retired to study the Bible more, in an effort to give messages behind the pulpit, but has since decided to return to rap after being encouraged by Mase to wait for God's calling to do so.