What did DMX's tattoos mean? Rapper's son's name to stray dog's portrait, here's what each one meant to him
DMX was one of the most successful stars of the late 1990s and 2000s, whose achievements earned him a place in the rapping world. He became the first artist to see his first five albums top the Billboard charts. On Friday, April 9, DMX died at the White Plains Hospital after suffering what his family called “a catastrophic cardiac arrest”. The rapper had a number of tattoos with special meanings behind them, and now his fans want to know what they all meant.
DMX aka Earl Simmons' family released a statement after his death saying: “Earl was a warrior who fought till the very end. He loved his family with all of his heart, and we cherish the times we spent with him.” On April 2, DMX had a heart attack at his home in White Plains. In the days that followed, his representatives said he was on life support “in a vegetative state”. Outside the hospital, family and friends gathered with hundreds of fans playing DMX’s music and praying while holding up their arms in the shape of X.
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DMX's tattoos
Born in White Plains, New York, DMX had a very difficult childhood with an abusive mother. This is when he reportedly found his love for stray dogs. One of the massive tattoos on his back said “One Love Boomer” with a portrait of a dog underneath. This was actually the portrait of his dog who was shot by the police when the two were reportedly fleeing the cops. Unfortunately, the dog reportedly couldn't make it over a fence.
Okay, front tats, iconic.
— J Shahryar 🏳️⚧️ 🌈 BLM✊🏽ACAB (@JShahryar) April 9, 2021
But did you know DMX took care of stray dogs?
And while the front tattoos are awesome, have you seen the back tattoo? pic.twitter.com/P5bEoOCwZc
DMX fathered 15 children with multiple women, many of whom are from extramarital affairs that he had during his marriage with Tashera Simmons, with whom he was married for 11 years. For the birth of his fifteenth child, Exodus, DMX got the name of his son tattooed in the front of his neck with black ink. The artist who tattooed DMX's son's name also tattooed twin tower tattoo on the rapper, for which DMX reportedly “drank the entire Henny’s f*****g gallon just to get through that s**t”.
“And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them.”
— Blue Boi of Nigeria 🇳🇬 (@Psalmy_TRAXER) April 9, 2021
— Exodus 1:7 (KJV)
The tattoo on #DMX neck... pic.twitter.com/TOjdHIRFbO
Growing up in New York, DMX has made a name for himself as a battle rapper in the south, especially in Miami. While the rapper has tattoos on hi arms, chest, back and neck, the first tattoo that he got was on his left tricep which was of a grim reaper walking a pitbull. Like many, DMX regretted his first tattoo and claimed that it sent him on the path that caused many complications in his life. He had reportedly said that a tattoo "binds" you to its image.