X Gonna Give it to ya....

One of the saddest stories in Hip-Hop and an example of how quickly thing can go bad?

The signs came early. X would miss shows or get arrested, yet the people closest to him never stepped in.

Could it be because the money was too good? I dunno. But you would think that someone who loved Earl would have kept him from continuing down his destructive past.

One of the worst things about hearing a guy do an interview from jail is hearing how they plan to never end up back in trouble... only to see them back in bracelets again.

X is one of those dudes that you are just hoping for at this point. You remember how great it was for him ten years ago. He was on top of the charts and was a force in Hip-Hop. He single-handedly ended the "shiny suit" era.

The irony is, one of the greatest things about X's art was his vulnerability and how his emotions came through his lyrics. But it was that same trait that turned into a terrible addiction and landed him in jail.

Whether good or bad, stage or chains... DMX is a captivating figure and we will always pay attention when he speaks.