DMX (1970–2021), a Yonkers legend with an indomitable spirit Born Earl Simmons in Mount Vernon, New York, DMX was an American rapper and actor whose raw intensity and gravelly voice made him one of the most influential figures in hip-hop during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Despite a difficult upbringing marked by poverty, violence, and addiction, DMX channeled his pain into powerful, confessional music that resonated with millions. Early life and career beginnings Challenging childhood: Simmo