By Jason Collins
I’d be remiss if I didn’t start by paying my respects to the family and friends of DMX. His passing has left a huge hole in the hip-hop community. His fire will be missed. Earl ‘DMX’ Simmons is a legend who was crowned king of hardcore rap after the death of Tupac and Notorious B.I.G. His 30-year reign left a lasting impact on hip-hop. It seems ludicrous to compare DMX, the embodiment of hardcore hip-hop, to Johnny Cash, the original “Man in Black” and outlaw country icon. How can you even ask if DMX is the Johnny Cash of hip-hop? It doesn’t seem so crazy when you start to look a little deeper.
We can get super microscopic and look at their names, crews, and childhoods. For instance, both artists created stage names for themselves. Sure, most artists have one, but we’re analyzing and compiling all our findings. We all know DMX’s real name, but “Johnny” wasn’t Cash’s real first name. “J.R.” is what his parents named him. No, the letters don’t stand for anything. Southern parents often doled out initials instead of names to their children during the Great Depression. Cash randomly chose the name “John” when he enlisted for the army. It stuck; albeit, slightly transformed for the stage. The DMX digital drum machine is what inspired Earl Simmons’s stage name. That title was reimagined to “Dark Man X” in later years. Interestingly, DMX and Cash were both parts of a crew. Cash was part of Sun Records’ “Million Dollar Quartet,” and DMX helped form the Ruff Ryders. There is overlap in their childhoods, too. Both grew up in deprived households; although, it must be noted that Cash was close with his parents growing up while DMX was not. His mother was abusive, and his father left him at an early age. These microscopic similarities start the journey into understanding why DMX might just be the Johnny Cash of hip-hop.
Now, let’s get macroscopic. The most profound similarity between the two artists is the music. That might not make sense, but both DMX and Johnny Cash revolutionized their genres. DMX’s millennial rage and real street rap openly challenged the monotonous pop of the day. Cash’s outlaw country opposed the mawkish Nashville sound. It was a sound that dictated your fate as an artist. Cash rebelled against that system as DMX rebelled against his. His lyrics covered everything from addiction and desperation to firearms and murder, and I’m talking about Johnny Cash. He sings of a death row inmate in “25 Minutes to Go,” encapsulating the darkness of humanity and the struggles of those who fall outside of society’s normative demands. It’s no secret that hardcore, gangsta rap addresses these same challenges and certainly on a deeper level. Cash reflects on what’s past, but DMX addresses the cyclical landscape of violence, crime, and addiction that surrounded him. It’s a place of desperation, of longing to escape but never finding the exit. This is most evident in his song “Slippin’.” He gives these social issues a face, forcing the audience to confront the reality of how many people live. The critical difference here is that Cash didn’t write all his songs, whereas DMX did.
Another big difference, and what sets DMX apart from Cash, is the accolades DMX achieved in his early years. DMX’s ’98 debut album, “It’s Dark and Hot as Hell”, exploded and sold a quarter of a million records in the first week. The album debuted at number one on the US charts, and so did his following three albums. He’s the first artist in history to do that. When you add it all up, DMX’s first three albums went platinum for a record-breaking 12 times. The ’99 release of his third album, “…And Then There Was X”, sold over five million copies and boasts one of his most successful songs, namely “Party Up (Up in Here)”; a contender with “Get at Me Dog.” Cash’s only studio album to reach number one at the time was “Walk the Line.” It was only on the US Country charts. His first three live albums, “At Folsom Prison,” “At San Quinton,” and “The Johnny Cash Show,” all hit number one on the US Country charts, and only “San Quinton” made it to the US charts. Despite the chasm of success between the two artists, each left an everlasting mark on their respective genres.
Delving deeper into their personal lives, the lines between the two overlap once again. Both Cash and DMX have a string of arrests behind their illustrious names and battled drug addiction. DMX has faced charges for everything from animal abuse and driving under the influence to firearm possession and impersonating an FBI agent. Cash’s rap sheet reads in much the same way. He was arrested for smuggling amphetamines over the US – Mexico border, drunk driving, assault, and even picking flowers. These confrontations with the law helped bolster both artists’ careers in that they epitomized the outlaw image that became synonymous with their names. DMX and Cash both struggled with drug addictions but had differing tastes. DMX was entangled in a vicious dance with Cocaine while Cash brawled with amphetamines and Dexedrine. Surprisingly, both ended up in near-death situations because of their addictions. In 1967, Cash was found close to death by a policeman in a small Georgia town. DMX was found in a similar state, in 2016, outside the Ramada Inn in Yonkers, where he grew up. The Christian roots of each artist pulled them through these traumas.
Both DMX and Cash were influenced by their faith and decided to turn their lives around. Cash overcame his addiction, retired from music, and returned to his Christian roots. He became an ordained minister after receiving a degree in theology. Remember, Cash grew up in a Christian home, singing gospel songs. It’s no secret that DMX’s faith has always played a pivotal role in his life. We can hear it throughout his music but particularly in songs like “Jesus (Love Me)” and “Lord We Thank You”. DMX also retired from hip-hop to follow his dream of becoming a pastor. He felt called upon by God to follow that life path after his near-death experience. He believes the chaos of life is what helped him understand God’s love. It’s uncanny. DMX and Cash had a deep connection to their faith, yet another link between the two artists and a further case for DMX being the Johnny Cash of hip-hop.
A quick final thought, DMX, and Johnny Cash both had film and TV careers on the side. Cash starred in The Rebel, a 1971 TV drama about the US Civil War. He also starred in Five Minutes to Live, a total box office flop, and A Gunfight, which found more success. His crowning film project was his 1973 self-produced film called Gospel Road: A Story of Jesus. He and a crew filmed the story of Jesus in Israel. It didn’t gain huge success but was popular in church groups, and Cash felt it was his best film. DMX has starred in many films. Romeo Must Die, Exit Wounds, Belly, and Cradle 2 the Grave are his most popular films among fans. These links between these two artists make it harder to ignore the question is DMX the Johnny Cash of hip-hop?
Like most things in life, it’s open to interpretation. The similarities and differences between these two heavy-hitting artists are apparent when looking at their personal and musical lives. DMX is the Johnny cash of hip-hop and has a legacy that will continue to live on. My heart is with DMX and his family. A true hip-hop superstar. We weren’t ready for you to meet Him.