FAME ISN’T ALL IT IS CRACKED UP TO BE...

DEBASHINE THANGEVELO

DMX – Hip Hop Legend

I’VE lost track of the number of celebrities we have lost to substance abuse. But we never forget. How could we, when it claims the lives of so many icons every year. The recent passing of Grammy award-winning artist DMX (real name Earl Simmons) is another painful reminder of the dark side of fame.

He was 50 when he passed from a “catastrophic cardiac arrest” linked to a drug overdose several days earlier. As heartbreaking as it was to bid farewell to an incredibly talented artist, it’s also great cause for concern.

The world of showbiz is saturated with stars, they flash those million-dollar smiles at the drop of a hat. But don’t be fooled by those picture-perfect looks on the red carpet. While they may blow your mind with their accomplishments, there’s a lot going on in their world.

When you’ve achieved the holy grail of fame, it doesn’t only signify that you’ve arrived. It means everyone wants to have a piece of you. Your life is no longer your own and though you are surrounded by people, you are still very much alone. This is, compounded by, personal triggers.

Looking at DMX’s life and his rise in the industry, which is masterfully documented in BET’s Ruff Ryders Chronicle, he had a troubled childhood. He suffered abuse at the hands of his mother and her various boyfriends. He turned to crime to escape the clutches of poverty. Fortunately for him, he had talent. A stint behind bars for theft in 1988 saw him focus more on his songwriting and rapping skills. He hustled his way into the hearts of passersby on the streets of New York, where he sold his mixtapes.

He even got a mention in The Source magazine. In 1992, DMX was signed to Ruffhouse Records an American record label founded in 1989 by Chris Schwartz and Joe Nicolo as a joint venture with Columbia Records. And that was the start of his meteoric rise in the hip hop industry.

That said, his entire career was dogged by substance abuse and run-ins with the law. Given his childhood, though, some scars clearly ran deep. His talent was his salvation but sadly not from his vice.

In the industry, many exceptionally talented celebrities have battled with addiction. The reasons for them turning to drugs vary. It could be they were child stars and ill-equipped to deal with fame. Perhaps they came from an abusive home. Or they were in a tumultuous relationship.

Some also battled with depression, which they hide from the world and even the people closest to them.

Our very own Pabi Moloi won her battle against alcoholism. Other South African A-listers like Kelly Khumalo, Nina Hastie and Trevor Gumbi have been down this dark road at one point in their life.

While some celebrities are able to get help and bounce back with a clean track record of sobriety, others, like DMX, have not been so lucky.

Hopefully, this will be a cautionary tale for current and future generations to steer clear of the calamitous trappings of fame.

Pabi Moloi Nina Hastie Trevor Gumbi