DMX, the critically acclaimed and beloved rapper, sadly passed away in 2021 at the age of 50 years old only a week after collapsing in his home. The hip-hop community is still reeling from the loss.
From 1998 to 2003, DMX ruled hip hop radio and dominated Billboard charts. He had massive hits like “Party Up,” “Slippin” and “X Gon’ Give It to Ya.” X covered magazines like VIBE, XXL and The Source. In one of VIBE’s 1998 “NEXT” profiles, X talked about the reception he received from fans. “I stay getting love like that, and I love it. I’m gonna feed everyone,” he said. “There’s dogs out here who don’t have a voice. I’m here to soak up their pain and make it felt everywhere by spitting it out to a hot beat.”
DMX toured in sold-out arenas. And he had an unprecedented five consecutive No. 1 albums: It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot, Flesh of my Flesh, Blood of my Blood, the 6X platinum And Then There Was X, The Great Depression, and Grand Champs.
No other rapper has achieved this yet.
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The chart-topping feat exalted X and his crossover appeal grew more enticing to filmmakers.
And who could forget the visually appealing classic Hype Williams-directed film, Belly? He starred alongside Nas in the 1998 cult classic.
His acting chops were on display alongside the late Aaliyah in Romeo Must Die, and he appeared in the action-thriller Exit Wounds with Steven Seagal. He acted in over a dozen films throughout his career.
DMX’s Early Childhood Shaped His Family Life
Simmons was the middle child of the family; his mother had given birth to a daughter, Bonita, two years prior, and later gave birth to one daughter, Shayla, and two stillborn sons. His father, Barker, painted watercolor paintings of street scenes to sell at local fairs, having moved to Philadelphia to fulfill his career.
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In his childhood years, Simmons first suffered from physical violence at the hands of his mother and was diagnosed with bronchial asthma. He was raised as a Jehovah’s Witness. He disassociated himself from the spirituality after he was injured in an accident by a driver. At the age of five, his mother sent him to live with relatives in Yonkers’ School Street housing apartments. After suffering from his mother’s abuse, he was expelled from a middle school at the age of ten, having been sent to a group home.
He then returned to Yonkers at age fifteen, sleeping in empty storage bins and befriending stray dogs. Due to poor grades at Yonkers Middle High School, Simmons was unable to finish his track and field team schedule. Broke, he robbed several students to find food and clothing for himself, as well as a leather collar and harness for his pet dog. He began carjacking.
As he grew into a young man, DMX ultimately became the father of 15 children from 9 different women. He married his childhood friend Tashera Simmons in 1999. They divorced in 2014. They had four children together: Xavier (born 1992), Tacoma (born 1999), Sean (born 2002), and Praise Mary Ella (born 2005). In July 2010, after his first of three incarcerations that year, Tashera announced their separation. They remained friends, although in 2016, Tashera accused DMX of missing his $10,000/month child support payment.
DMX had a daughter, Sasha (born 2002), with Patricia Trejo. In 2012, Trejo sued DMX for $1 million in unpaid child support. The case was settled in 2013.
DMX and Monique Wayne, a Maryland resident, fought over her claim that he was the father of her son born in 2004. She sued him for defamation and for child support. After genetic testing proved that DMX was the father, in January 2008, DMX was ordered to pay Wayne $1.5 million, but a judge vacated the judgment in May 2008.
DMX also fathered a son and a daughter with Yadira Borrego. The son was 11 years old at the time of DMX’s death, while the daughter’s age was not known by the general public. He fathered another child with his fiancée Desiree Lindstrom on August 16, 2016.
DMX’s final two children, twin boys, were born on December 5, 2019. Their mother is Pebbles Junell.
DMX’s 15 Children and What They’re Doing Now
While fans and lovers of hip-hop mourn the death of the legend, nobody misses him more than X’s children.
He was the father of 15 talented and diverse young adults and kids.
Here are some of his children:
Xavier Simmons
DMX was married to Tashera Simmons from 1999-2014. Together, the former couple welcomed four children together — three sons and one daughter. The couple’s eldest is Xavier Simmons who is roughly 28 years old. The couple welcomed their son prior to their marriage. Xavier is definitely following in his father’s footsteps. The 28-year-old is an artist who recently made a movie, according to his Instagram account.
Tacoma Simmons
According to the NY Post, their 21-year-old son Tacoma Simmons. Tacoma describes himself as a “musical composer,” per his private Instagram account
Praise Mary Ella Simmons
Praise Mary Ella, is the only daughter among the four children, as born on April 18, 2005. Very little is known about her as there is not much available via social media. In a rare sighting, her mom shared an Instagram post where she called her, “smart, funny, articulate, caring, observant, and full of light and love.”
Sasha Simmons
Since the untimely passing of her father, Sasha has taken to social media to share just how much her dad meant to her. The 19-year-old penned a lengthy message in which she expressed how much her dad was misunderstood.
She began, “Nothing will ever explain how I feel, how this whole situation feels. my twin, I love you. We were the same person as a whole and I’m glad to have been blessed with being your daughter. You were and will be remembered to me as funny, charismatic, emotional, real, understanding, and loving. Grateful for all those talks that we got to have, I never didn’t learn from you. I’m finally in your city and you not here to experience it with me. I don’t have much to say yet, this is all overwhelming but the genuine love I have received helps so much.”
Sean Simmons
According to Black Celebrity Kids, Sean Simmons is 18 and appears to be the athlete of the family. As it appears on his private Instagram account, he plays football. Like two of his siblings, Sean isn’t very active on social media.
Regarding his remaining kids, DMX also fathered a child in 2008 and fathered two children with ex-girlfriend Yadira Borrego. In 2009, his daughter Sonovah Junior was born. In 2011, his daughter Aaliyah, named after his close friend, Aaliyah, was born. His fifteenth child, Exodus Simmons, was born to his fiancée, Desiree Lindstrom, on August 16, 2016.
According to multiple social media reports, X allegedly had a child with another woman in 2008. In January, DMX posted about his “daughter” and her new song, and linked to Instagram handle @sonovah_junior. That account posted photos of the rapper with a young girl, with the caption: “I’m walking in your foot steps. I love you daddy.”
