The truth behind DMX barking on songs
DMX was a 1990s legend, and his legacy lives on to this day. With his career beginnings rooted in the late ’80s, the rapper became one of the most prevalent and exciting rappers of the 1990s and 2000s.
Born Earl Simmons, the rapper had a slow but exciting rise to fame and captured fans with his aggressive style and provocative lyrics. DMX was an unparalleled force in hip-hop during his heyday. With his menacing, gravelly delivery and unmatched energy, the Yonkers artist most certainly made an impact when he first arose in 1999.
The song that first garnered mainstream attention for X was ‘Ruff Ryders Anthem’ which went to number one in America, selling over four million copies. However, following the release of It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot in 1998, Simmons went on to release six more albums.
However, in addition to having a deep voice and intimidating stature, one particular type of animal is synonymous with DMX and has remained a part of him throughout his musical career: dogs.
Why does DMX bark on songs?
Aside from his iconic ATVs and dirtbikes, DMX is also known for his many pit bulls. Many of them are featured in his music videos, and one of his dogs even became the artwork of the Yonkers’ emcee’s fifth studio album, Grand Champ, in 2003.
However, the love for his canines goes far deeper than just his music videos and photo shoots. According to various reports and profiles of the late lyegend, DMX used to wander the streets of Yonkers befriending stray dogs and had a few of his own too. It is rumoured that he even grew to like dogs more than people.
Speaking to the LA Times, DMX once explained, “If people were like dogs, the world would be a much better place. Dogs only want to eat. They don’t want their food and their territory invaded. Other than that, they leave you alone. That’s life. Eat, sleep, do what you’ve got to do.”
His peers have also corroborated this love for canines. In an interview with Nick Cannon, Jadakiss of The Lox revealed that, in his youth, DMX used to rob people in Yonkers with his dog Boomer, which was aggressive, to say the least. Opening up about the canine, Jada unveiled, “He loves all of them. But he had a dog Boomer, it was dangerous. You ever see him, with Boomer, you know he’s robbing everything with his dog. Not armed robbery, dog robbery.”
It is well-known that even when he moved from the projects of Yonkers into a mansion, Simmons kept his dogs and had a special luxury pound made for them. However, he also made dogs a part of his brand by deploying canine-like vocal delivery.
DMX incorporated different dog sounds into his music, using barking and growling to intimidate other rappers and people in general, as American pit bulls are renowned for being one of the most vicious dog breeds in the world, and even the toughest of MCs couldn’t fight off an XL bully if they tried. The ultimate embodiment of sheer strength and gnarly determination.
You can watch DMX speak about his love for dogs in the video below.