How DMX broke through his jaw wires to land a record deal
There are some crazy stories about DMX, and the fearless rapper did some scary things during his day to achieve the outcome he wanted. From violence to ignoring doctor’s orders when it was warranted, the Yonkers lyricist sometimes pushed the envelope.
That said, in the 1990s, when he first arrived on the scene, things started looking up for the artist, but only after he decided to go against his doctor’s advice by rapping with his mouth wired shut after an accident that had left him with a broken jaw.
Following his success with Ruff Ryders Entertainment, DMX was looking for a record deal with a major label. He wanted to enter the big leagues and finally get out of the streets and go international with his music. To do this, he would need an engine behind him, and due to his underground buzz, the first establishment that approached him was Def Jam.
Prior to becoming a career artist, DMX was a battle rapper and had become a household name in his hometown of Yonkers, New York. With a gruff voice and intimidating build, he stood out as the city’s potential new star. As such, he caught the attention of several music industry executives, including Irv Gotti and the Dean family of Ruff Ryders management. Despite all of the interest in him and his music, none of the establishments that approached him were the right fit.
However, as he continued to battle and navigate the depths of street life, he decided to rise up and work with Ruff Ryders. Still, he remained close with Irv Gotti—a highly important figure in hip-hop with a vast network of industry contacts.
As the pair continued to brush shoulders, Gotti began to take a liking to DMX. Desperate to see him sign with a major label, he embarked on a journey to set up a studio session for DMX with Def Jam head honcho Lyor Cohen.
Lyor Cohen’s name rings bells in hip-hop circles, and to this day, his opinion holds a great deal of power. DMX was one of many battle MCs chosen to attend the studio session, but ultimately, Cohen would have the final say as to who would join him on his record label.
However, days before the studio session, DMX had been involved in a complicated street robbery gone wrong that saw him beaten up and left with a broken jaw. In an interview with Talib Kweli on his People’s Party podcast, X revealed he had been “stomped out” and sent home by doctors with a swollen neck full of abscesses that could have killed him in his sleep.
Finally, upon returning to the hospital in grave pain, it was decided he would have to have his mouth wired shut, and the wires were front and centre. Recalling the day he turned up to the session, X told Kweli, “I remember I had a black hoodie on—I had a 40-ounce that I cradled under my arm.” He remembered, “When I walked in, they parted like the Red Sea.”
Vividly detailing his determination, ‘Where’s The Hood At?’ lyricist unveiled that he took it upon himself to rap through his teeth to prove a point, breaking the wires in the process. This really caught the attention of Cohen.
Recounting Cohen’s mystic facial response, X told Kweli, “[Concerning his reaction] I couldn’t really tell, but I knew what work I put in.” After a series of exchanges behind the scenes, in 1998, DMX made it official with the label and dropped two studio albums that year, Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood, and It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot.
As they say, the rest is history, and the daring move paid off for the Yonkers icon. In the video below, you can hear Irv Gotti detailing DMX’s freestyle for Cohen.