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April 25 - May 2, 2004 |
The Rap on rising star DMX
Controversial music artist featured in Ernest Dickerson's film noir drama Never Die Alone
By Angela Baldassarre
Originally Published: 2004-04-04
Los Angeles - Rolling Stone magazine describes him as "a true defender of the East Coast rap battalion," the only artist in Soundscan history to have his first four albums debut at number one on the Billboard Charts. But Yonkers-based rapper/producer DMX (Dark Man X, real name Earl Simmons) has become more than that, having crossed over to Hollywood to appear in big-budget blockbuster action movies Exit Wounds and Cradle 2 the Grave, among others.
Now the hard-talking, charismatic 33-year-old "X" is back on the screen in Ernest Dickerson's film noir Never Die Alone, based on Donald Goines' pulp fiction novel. DMX plays a kingpin drug dealer named King David who returns to his hometown seeking redemption but ends up only finding violent death. King David's final moments are spent with Paul (David Arquette), an aspiring journalist who knows him for just a few minutes. Half preacher, half Satan, King David recorded the story of his exploits on audiotape, leaving behind a sermon on villainy and its consequences.
Tandem talked to DMX in Los Angeles.
What do you think of King David?
"I don't like him as a character, but I was going to play him well enough, just because I was where he was. I was locked up for awhile."
You've been used to big-budget movies and this picture was shot for under $3 million. What was it like?
"Well, the trailer was smaller. The energy is more intense. Shooting was faster. There wasn't much time for anything, at the most two takes."
You're also a producer on Never Die Alone. Did you like it?
"No. Too much work. I had to show up for too many meetings. Not my thing, but I had to do it even though I didn't enjoy it."
You're the producer, your wife Tashera Simmons is a co-producer, and your son is an actor in this film. Do you bring it all home?
"When we're at home we don't talk business. We're at home, it's just me and my wife and my children and my dogs. That's my world, and we don't talk business."
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