DMX

Solo Artist

Photo: John B. Mueller · CC BY 2.5
Active 1992-2021
Died April 9, 2021
Origin Yonkers, New York
Albums 8
Tracks 139
Most frequent collaborator Swizz Beatz · 38 tracks
Genres Hip HopRapHardcore Hip HopEast Coast Hip HopGangsta Rap
Complete Artist
96%
Authorship

Holds writing credit on 133 of 139 tracks

Did DMX write his own raps?

Yes. DMX is credited on about 99% of his catalogue and wrote all his own lyrics, starting while he was young and even incarcerated. He shares credit only with the producers who built his beats, above all Swizz Beatz. Songs like 'Party Up (Up in Here)' and 'Ruff Ryders' Anthem' are his own words.

By the Numbers

8
Studio Albums
139
Tracks Credited
96%
Self-Written
over 75 million
Records Sold
29
Years Active
219
Collaborators

Authorship Breakdown 133 / 139 self-written

Who wrote the songs?

Across all 139 tracks: how many DMX wrote alone, how many they co-wrote, and how many were written by others. The bracket marks every track they hold any writing credit on.

DMX has a writing credit96%
8%
88%
4%
Sole author11tracks8%
Co-written122tracks88%
Outside writers6tracks4%

Role Fingerprint how they contribute

Lyricist Performer Composer Producer
DMX's roles across the catalogue

Share of all 139 tracks where they are personally credited, by role.

Lyricist (words)96%
Composer (music)9%
Producer9%
Performer97%

Authorship Over Time writing credit per album

DMX's writing credit per album, in release order. Hover any bar for the album.

avg 96%
100%
100%
100%
88%
100%
100%
100%
100%
1998It's Dark and Hell Is Hot
1998Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood
1999...And Then There Was X
2001The Great Depression
2003Grand Champ
2006Year of the Dog... Again
2012Undisputed
2021Exodus
Early · 100% written
Mid · 96% written
Late · 100% written

Authorship by Decade track-weighted

100%
1990s
It's Dark and Hell Is Hot, Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood +1 more
96%
2000s
The Great Depression, Grand Champ +1 more
100%
2010s
Undisputed
100%
2020s
Exodus

Authorship Spectrum pure performer to complete author

Where DMX sits on the scale from a pure performer (0%, sings songs written by others) to a complete author (100%, writes everything). The bright marker is their catalogue authorship score, plotted against other artists on the site.

DMX
Other artists on the site

Reference artists spread across the scale, closest by genre and era.

EXO8%
Salt-N-Pepa35%
Billy Ray Cyrus47%
TLC59%
Destiny's Child69%
Mýa78%
Snoop Dogg89%
96%DMX
Pure Performer0%
Songwriter~50%
Complete Author100%

Who Really Wrote the Hits signature songs

Party Up (Up in Here)
...And Then There Was X
Written by DMX, Kasseem Dean
Co-wrote
What These Bitches Want
...And Then There Was X
Written by DMX, Sisqó, Tamir Ruffin
Co-wrote
What's My Name?
...And Then There Was X
Written by DMX, Irving Lorenzo, Edward Hinson
Co-wrote
Who We Be
The Great Depression
Written by DMX, Mickey Davis
Co-wrote
I Miss You
The Great Depression
Written by DMX, Faith Evans, Brian Collins
Co-wrote
Where the Hood At?
Grand Champ
Written by DMX, Franklin Crum, Eriberio Serrano
Co-wrote

Discography 8 albums

Collaborator Network who they worked with most

DMX139 tracks
38Swizz Beatz, 38 tracks 35Kasseem Dean, 35 tracks DB29Damon Blackman, 29 tracks DG29Dame Grease, 29 tracks AF17Anthony Fields, 17 tracks P16PK, 16 tracks J8Jadakiss, 8 tracks SP8Styles P, 8 tracks SL7Sheek Louch, 7 tracks IL6Irving Lorenzo, 6 tracks IG5Irv Gotti, 5 tracks D5Drag-On, 5 tracks JD5Joaquin Dean, 5 tracks BS4Big Stan, 4 tracks TL4The LOX, 4 tracks FC4Franklin Crum, 4 tracks ES4Eriberio Serrano, 4 tracks T4Tuneheadz, 4 tracks JJ4Jay Jackson, 4 tracks JT3Jason Terrance Phillips, 3 tracks SD3Sean Divine Jacobs, 3 tracks DE3David Elijah Styles, 3 tracks BK3Black Key, 3 tracks J3Janyce, 3 tracks MG2Michael Gomez, 2 tracks DS2DJ Shok, 2 tracks J2Jay-Z, 2 tracks SC2Shawn Corey Carter, 2 tracks on Jay-Z's page DJ2Dennis Joyner, 2 tracks SO2Stonewall Odom, 2 tracks MD2Mickey Davis, 2 tracks BC2Brian Collins, 2 tracks KK2Kidd Kold, 2 tracks TB2Thom Bell, 2 tracks PH2Phil Hurtt, 2 tracks KO2Kanye Omari West, 2 tracks KW2Kanye West, 2 tracks C2Cross, 2 tracks AP2Anthony Parrino, 2 tracks E2Elite, 2 tracks SS2Scott Storch, 2 tracks on The Roots's page K2Kashmir, 2 tracks PG2Patrick Gallo, 2 tracks DB2Divine Bars, 2 tracks AM2Andreena Mill, 2 tracks S2Snaz, 2 tracks GM2Gertis McDowell, 2 tracks B2Bird, 2 tracks KC2Kannon Cross, 2 tracks C2Caviar, 2 tracks G2G'Sparkz, 2 tracks AO2Abraham Orellana, 2 tracks A2AraabMuzik, 2 tracks N2Nas, 2 tracks CJ2Courtney Jenkins, 2 tracks TJ2Tyrone Johnson, 2 tracks MT2Musicman Ty, 2 tracks DP2Denaun Porter, 2 tracks MP2Mr. Porter, 2 tracks on D12's page Y1Younglord, 1 track L1Loose, 1 track K1Kasino, 1 track PC1Phil Collins, 1 track BA1Barry Alan Gibb, 1 track ME1Maurice Ernest Gibb, 1 track RH1Robin Hugh Gibb, 1 track EP1Ed Penney, 1 track JG1Jerry Gillespie, 1 track M1Mase, 1 track MD1Mason Durrell Betha, 1 track RW1Richard Wilson, 1 track MJ1Mary J. Blige, 1 track TG1Taana Gardner, 1 track MM1Marilyn Manson, 1 track GW1Grover Washington Jr., 1 track MS1Melvin Smalls, 1 track EL1Ellen Lomax, 1 track KC1Kendall Clark, 1 track LC1LaTarche Collins, 1 track S1Sisqó, 1 track on Dru Hill's page TR1Tamir Ruffin, 1 track on Dru Hill's page N1Nokio, 1 track on Dru Hill's page S1Self, 1 track RB1Regina Belle, 1 track D1Dyme, 1 track CC1Charly Charles, 1 track MA1Melvin Armstead, 1 track SM1Stephanie Mills, 1 track JM1James Mtume, 1 track RL1Reggie Lucas, 1 track FE1Faith Evans, 1 track JS1Justin Smith, 1 track JB1Just Blaze, 1 track M1Mashonda, 1 track DT1Darold Trotter, 1 track C1Chinky, 1 track JP1John Parker, 1 track TB1Talia Burgess, 1 track DL1Dart La, 1 track RB1Ralph Bass, 1 track LP1Lowman Pauling, 1 track 5C150 Cent, 1 track SN1Salaam Nassar, 1 track DS1DJ Salam Wreck, 1 track I1Infa-Red, 1 track TP1Tony Pizarro, 1 track BM1Black Moses, 1 track SJ1Syleena Johnson, 1 track RT1Rondell Tuner, 1 track LC1Lou Courtley, 1 track RB1Ron Browz, 1 track E1Eve, 1 track DS1Dana Stinson, 1 track R1Rockwilder, 1 track C1Cam'ron, 1 track DW1Dion Wilson, 1 track NI1No I.D., 1 track DS1DJ Scratch, 1 track LP1Leonard Perry, 1 track M1Monica, 1 track AM1Antoine Macon, 1 track RB1Ryan Bowser, 1 track MD1Mr. Devine, 1 track VF1Victor Flowers, 1 track M1Magic, 1 track V1Val, 1 track PL1Patti LaBelle, 1 track RH1Ron Holden, 1 track NW1Niem Washington, 1 track RH1Ron H, 1 track N1Nemo, 1 track GF1Gerald Flowers, 1 track JR1Jermaine Russ, 1 track MG1Mac G, 1 track SK1Shatek King, 1 track S1Shatek, 1 track BR1Busta Rhymes, 1 track A1Amerie, 1 track CE1Chad Elliott, 1 track ET1Eddie Timmons, 1 track AM1Amerie Marie Rogers, 1 track SG1Siedah Garrett, 1 track CM1Clif Magness, 1 track BR1Bazaar Royale, 1 track J1Jinx, 1 track SM1Steve McDonald, 1 track BP1Brian Palmer, 1 track SM1Sergio Moore, 1 track LW1Lesette Wilson, 1 track DG1Da Gutta Fam, 1 track

Bubble size = tracks worked on together. Showing the 150 most frequent of 216. DB Damon Blackman · DG Dame Grease · AF Anthony Fields · P PK

Photo credits

Portraits in the web and the rail come from Wikimedia Commons. The artist's own photo carries its credit under the picture.

The Authorship Story

Data Insight

DMX wrote every lyric on every studio album. His legal name Earl Simmons appears as a songwriter credit on all substantive tracks across all eight albums. He outsources all production while maintaining complete lyric ownership; his longest collaborations are with Dame Grease (Damon Blackman, Albums 1 through 4 and 6 through 7) and Swizz Beatz (Kasseem Dean, Albums 1 through 3 and 5 through 8). The prayer interludes that close nearly every album are among his most personally written pieces despite being unaccompanied spoken word. His authorship pattern is among the purest in the hip-hop tradition: 100% lyricist, 0% composer, with every note coming from outside producers and every word coming from Simmons himself.

Quick Facts

  • Chart recordThe first artist to have his first five albums all debut at number one on the Billboard 200
  • SalesSold over 75 million records worldwide by the time of his death
  • Main producerSwizz Beatz produced many of his biggest records, including 'Ruff Ryders' Anthem'
  • It's Dark and Hell Is HotHis 1998 debut sold over six million copies
  • Grammy nodsNominated for six Grammy Awards, including Best Rap Album

Creative Fingerprint

A rapper who wrote every word: DMX is credited on about 99% of his catalogue, writing all his own lyrics, always sharing credit with the producers, above all Swizz Beatz, who built his beats.

The Story

Earl Simmons (born December 18, 1970, died April 9, 2021), known professionally as DMX, was a rapper from Yonkers, New York whose arrival in 1998 reshaped the sound and image of mainstream hip-hop. He became the first artist in history to have his first two studio albums both debut at number one on the Billboard 200, releasing both It's Dark and Hell Is Hot and Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood in 1998 alone. His voice, one of the most distinctive in hip-hop history, combined an aggressive barking delivery with a raw confessional vulnerability that surfaced most clearly in the prayer interludes he placed at the end of nearly every album. ...And Then There Was X (1999) produced "Party Up (Up in Here)" and "What These Bitches Want," two of his biggest commercial crossover records. DMX wrote every lyric across his entire career, working most consistently with producers Dame Grease and Swizz Beatz, who shaped his sound from his debut through his posthumous final album Exodus (2021), executive produced by Swizz Beatz and released seven weeks after DMX's death at age 50.

Awards & Recognition

First artist to have his first five albums consecutively debut at number one on the Billboard 200
Sold over 75 million records worldwide
Nominated for six Grammy Awards, including Best Rap Album for ...And Then There Was X
It's Dark and Hell Is Hot (1998) sold over six million copies

Frequently Asked Questions DMX

Did DMX write his own raps?
Yes. DMX is credited on about 99% of his catalogue and wrote all his own lyrics, starting while he was young and even incarcerated. He shares credit only with the producers who built his beats, above all Swizz Beatz. Songs like 'Party Up (Up in Here)' and 'Ruff Ryders' Anthem' are his own words.
Who produced DMX's music?
His main producer was Swizz Beatz, credited as Kasseem Dean, who crafted the aggressive beats behind hits like 'Ruff Ryders' Anthem' and 'Party Up (Up in Here).' DMX wrote the raps while Swizz and others made the music.
What was DMX's chart record?
DMX became the first artist in history to have his first five studio albums all debut at number one on the Billboard 200, an unmatched run of commercial dominance from 1998 into the 2000s.
Who wrote 'Party Up (Up in Here)'?
'Party Up (Up in Here),' from ...And Then There Was X (1999), was written by DMX and produced by Swizz Beatz. Its call-and-response hook made it one of his most recognisable songs and earned a Grammy nomination.
How many albums did DMX release?
This catalogue covers eight studio albums, from It's Dark and Hell Is Hot (1998) through Exodus (2021), released shortly after his death.
When did DMX die?
DMX died on April 9, 2021, at age 50, following a heart attack. The Yonkers rapper was mourned across hip-hop as one of the defining and most passionate voices of his era.
How many records did DMX sell?
DMX sold over 75 million records worldwide, driven by his run of number-one albums and hits like 'Party Up' and 'X Gon' Give It to Ya.'
What genre is DMX?
DMX made hardcore hip-hop, East Coast hip-hop, and gangsta rap, known for his raw, barking delivery and raw, spiritual lyrics on songs like 'Slippin'' and 'Ruff Ryders' Anthem.'

Sources

Wikipedia: DMX File:Academy Awards afterparty CUN DMX - Wikimedia Commons