I remember sitting in the movie theater, watching Cradle 2 the Grave thinking that DMX might just join other rappers who could respectfully make the leap to acting. I thought he did a good job and looked forward to seeing him in more films. Before that, he had been in both Exit Wounds and Romeo Must Die . He was also successful in the music field. His debut album sold four million copies and some were comparing him to Tupac Shakur.
But, he always seems to be in trouble with the law. Although I only remember hearing about him being in trouble the past year, it seems his record stretches much further back. After the release of his second album in 1999, he and his wife were arrested in New Jersey and charged with animal cruelty as well as possession of drugs and guns. He was arrested again in 2000 for many driving offenses and possession of marijuana. After failing to appear in court, a warrant was issued for his arrest. When he finally turned himself in, he was fined $400 and spent 15 days in jail. Apparently, DMX isn’t the sharpest knife in the drawer because when he turned himself in, authorities found marijuana in his pack of cigarettes. He was fined an additional $250.
In 2002, DMX was charged with animal cruelty again when authorities discovered 13 neglected pit bulls in his possession. He had a charge in 2003 for using indecent language at a concert in the Caribbean. Officials for the country said that the contract specifically stated no bad language on stage.
In 2004, DMX was arrested in JFK Airport on charges of cocaine possession, criminal impersonation, criminal possession of a weapon, criminal mischief, menacing, and driving under the influence while claiming to be a federal agent and attempted carjacking. Things only got worse as he was arrested in May 2006 at Heathrow Airport in London for refusing to use his seat belt and becoming abusive to the flight staff. Okay, compared to the JFK incident, that seems rather mild.
It seems that DMX has a desire to get in trouble at least once a year. In February 2007, he was arrested for driving with an expired license. In August 2007, there was suspicion of animal cruelty – again – at his house. More neglected pit bulls were found, but DMX was not at home at the time.
Now for this year’s woes: a May arrest for drug possession, a June arrest for not having a valid driver’s license, then again in June for attempting to purchase cocaine and marijuana.
Yesterday, he was arrested on suspicion of giving a false name and social security number to a hospital. The Maricopa County Sherriff department contends that DMX used the name Troy Jones to get out of paying a $7,500 bill at the Scottsdale Mayo Clinic.
I like DMX, but honestly, how many get out of jail free cards does he have? Being in trouble once a year is bad enough, but three times in a month is just screaming incarceration. How someone who has sold over 20 million records, with five consecutive albums debuting at #1 on the Billboard charts be so troubled?