The Rapper, and the Activist

This past week, legendary rapper DMX passed away. DMX was a beloved rapper by many, known for the way he expressed his emotions in his music, and the way he wore his emotions on his sleeve. Most popularly known for hits such as "Where the Hood at", and "X gon give it to you", one really got to know DMX through his deeper songs such as "Let Me Fly", and "Get at Me Dog". On "Get at Me Dog", DMX raps "I rob and I kill, not cause I want to, 'cause I have to". DMX made very few attempts to hide his personal struggles, one of the most notable of which being his addiction to crack-cocaine. Recently before his death, DMX told the story in an interview that he was 14 years old, somebody who was older than DMX who he considered a friend and a mentor intentionally gave him marijuana laced with crack-cocaine. Doing almost any drug at such a young age almost destines someone for struggles with addiction for their entire lives. DMX delves into his other personal traumas in his music, including being abused as a child during a time when it wasn't necessarily accepted for rappers to be open about mental health. DMX died not being known for just a rapper, but for being a great person, friend, and father. One can take many lessons from DMX's life, and DMX was a great example of personal growth. One can draw many of these same lessons from the life of Malcom X. While Malcom X went on to dedicate his life to being a social activist, he too came from humble beginnings that included robbing and stealing. It wasn’t until X was released from prison that he was able to turn his life around. Both are great examples that while people are very often products of their environment, it is also possible for a person to turn their life around, and that everyone deserves second chances. Not only that, but it is important to consider someone’s background before judging them. People would often crack jokes on the internet about DMX’s crack addiction, but nobody whoever makes those jokes ever stop to consider what it would be like to be unknowingly drugged at 14 years old, to experience a lifetime of struggles with addiction. While the internet is currently filled with photographs paying homage to DMX, stories of random fan interactions, and stories from loved ones, it was definitely a dramatic switch in the way DMX was treated after he died. Similarly to Malcom X who was envied by his peers, made fun of for being too serious and always working too hard, had his ideologies dismissed by white people, and eventually was assassinated. There is definitely a tendency in society after someone famous passes away to pretend as though they were always celebrated when they were alive. Maybe this is just to feel better about ourselves, or maybe it’s just a natural human reaction. Regardless, the least we can do is consider the lessons that can be drawn from their lives.