Fans and supporters of DMX will commemorate the life and legacy of the rapper via two memorial services this weekend. It was announced on Wednesday that instead of a public memorial, fans of the Grammy-nominated star will be able to watch live-streamed memorial services.
On Saturday, April 24, a “Celebration of Life” memorial will be held at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center and will stream live from 4 pm ET at the rapper’s YouTube channel.
On Sunday, April 25, the artiste’s “Homegoing Celebration” will start from 2:30 pm ET and will air live on BET and BET’s YouTube channel.
A source told TMZ that a decision has been made to close the two events to the public and limit it to close friends and family. Reports said the rapper’s family and close friends will then attend a more private funeral service at a New York City church on Sunday, April 25.
It was reported last week that Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano said he wouldn’t mind allowing the family of DMX to use the city’s largest outdoor venue, Yonkers Raceway, for their memorial service if they would want to. The Yonkers Raceway holds about 7,500 people compared to Barclays, which holds 19,000. The Barclays Center is one of the last big venues DMX performed at before his death. In June 2019, he performed at the Masters of Ceremony concert at the center and also performed there during the Ruff Ryders reunion tour in 2017.
DMX, born Earl Simmons, died on April 9 at age 50 after suffering a heart attack. “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,” his family wrote in a statement following his death. “Earl’s music inspired countless fans across the world and his iconic legacy will live on forever.” In the wake of his death, social media has been filled up with tributes to the rapper. Fans and supporters while mourning his death have also been looking into his life story and musical legacy.
The rapper had a difficult childhood as he became a subject of abuse by his mother and her boyfriends. For much of his youth, he was in and out of boys’ homes after escaping his mother’s home, according to his 2003 autobiography E.A.R.L.: The Autobiography of DMX. While in one of these boys’ homes, he started writing his own songs and performing for his mates, who encouraged him to pursue music.
By 14, DMX had launched into the rap scene. He befriended a local rapper called Ready Ron before choosing the name DMX, paying homage to the Oberheim DMX drum machine that he used for his beats when he started music. Soon after, that moniker came to stand for “Dark Man X.”
