E.A.R.L. : The Autobiography of DMX

Rating:
Summary: A very good autobiography.
Review: This book covers the life of the rapper known as DMX. From the moment as a youth to his days as an adult his life story is told. You'll learn the beginnings of current hip hop stars and their associations with DMX. One interesting fact was DMX's constant rap battles and his winning record. One foe was K-Solo who he first met and defeated in prison. K-Solo went on to steal his new type of rap titled Spellbound a form of spelling out words. I remember hearing spellbound on the radio a lot in the early 90's; K-Solo took DMX's idea and made it his own. DMX was determined to get a recoding contract that he lived with his producer, lived in B-more for awhile, moved back to Yonkers, NY. Until he made it big in the rap game DMX moved his family to NJ. DMX noticed that girls began to change after his first album was released. Girls that didn't speak or give any attention started to take notice. One girl asked him to come up stairs, DMX said no you didn't asked before I made it big.

Rating:
Summary: E.A.R.L.
Review: This book is a MUST read for anyone who loves hip hop and is intrigued by rapper DMX. I admit when I got this book I put off reading it for awhile because I thought it was gonna be your average biography type book BUT was I suprised!!! This autobiography read like a novel and as you turn each page you want to read more and to know more about DMX. He holds nothing back and is just as raw as his rhymes; you will learn alot about him you would have never even believed if someone else told you but this IS his story. Read this book and you'll feel like you've known him all your life. He definitely has earned his place in the spotlight. Much luv, X!

Rating:
Summary: A story of the complexities of the American experience....
Review: This book is a story that demonstrates the complexity of the human experience. It provides an insightful and attention-grabbing look into the innerworkings of the American urban experience, highlighting the impact of poverty, unemployment, hopelessness, failure and also perseverence, vision, triumph and success.

I decided to read this book because I saw an interview with DMX that revealed an interesting person who was a loyal and devoted husband and father, a man with depth and a unique message to tell.

While I think the substance of this book is definitely of 5 star calibre, the overall delivery (particularly the language), does not reflect the highly articulate personality that I saw when DMX was interviewed. On the one hand I can understand that the "keep it real" language was used in order to engage readers that may not normally read on a regular basis, I feel like this strategy has some shortcomings. DMX's story deserves to be heard by many and I feel that some readers may be turned off by the language in the book. In the middle of the book, I was tempted to discontinue reading, having reached the point of saturation with regard to the same old four letter words, hyphenated expletives, etc. However, I continued through and was rewarded by the poetic, powerful and thought-provoking ending of the book.

So, that said, I say read this book and digest the fruits of this satisfying life story (and the accompanying lyrics). I hope that more such stories get told and if you are left feeling angry about some of the things that are done to DMX (and that he does as well) and frustrated by the shortfalls of the American experience/dream for many young Americans, suggest the book to a friend.

I hope you find this commentary useful ;).....

Rating:
Summary: A story of the complexities of the American experience....
Review: This book is a story that demonstrates the complexity of the human experience. It provides an insightful and attention-grabbing look into the innerworkings of the American urban experience, highlighting the impact of poverty, unemployment, hopelessness, failure and also perseverence, vision, triumph and success.

I decided to read this book because I saw an interview with DMX that revealed an interesting person who was a loyal and devoted husband and father, a man with depth and a unique message to tell.

While I think the substance of this book is definitely of 5 star calibre, the overall delivery (particularly the language), does not reflect the highly articulate personality that I saw when DMX was interviewed. On the one hand I can understand that the "keep it real" language was used in order to engage readers that may not normally read on a regular basis, I feel like this strategy has some shortcomings. DMX's story deserves to be heard by many and I feel that some readers may be turned off by the language in the book. In the middle of the book, I was tempted to discontinue reading, having reached the point of saturation with regard to the same old four letter words, hyphenated expletives, etc. However, I continued through and was rewarded by the poetic, powerful and thought-provoking ending of the book.

So, that said, I say read this book and digest the fruits of this satisfying life story (and the accompanying lyrics). I hope that more such stories get told and if you are left feeling angry about some of the things that are done to DMX (and that he does as well) and frustrated by the shortfalls of the American experience/dream for many young Americans, suggest the book to a friend.

I hope you find this commentary useful ;).....

Rating:
Summary: Dis is a very good book
Review: This book is incredible. It shows DMX's struggle and how he survived the streets of Younkers. It showed in very good detail the pain he felt after ceartain events. That book pointed out his rage and why he is who he is today. I am very very very very glad I read this book and I hope you guys will be as happy as I was.

Rating:
Summary: Great!!!
Review: This book offers an inside look into the life and mind of the ever popular DMX. He has proved himself time and time again, and made the best of a poverished and difficult childhood. DMX is not only a great rapper and entertainer, he is a admirable man. I've read this book four times since buying it (the day it came out) and each time I learn something new about him. This is a great buy that every hip hop fan should have.

Rating:
Summary: Great!!!
Review: This book offers an inside look into the life and mind of the ever popular DMX. He has proved himself time and time again, and made the best of a poverished and difficult childhood. DMX is not only a great rapper and entertainer, he is a admirable man. I've read this book four times since buying it (the day it came out) and each time I learn something new about him. This is a great buy that every hip hop fan should have.

Rating:
Summary: Surprised!!!
Review: This book really surprised me. I like DMX as a performer, but my admiration for him subsided when I read an article about him in Vibe magazine. I read how foul he is to his wife, by cheating on her with several different women; I guess that comes with the lifestyle, but whatever. After that I really didn't listen to his records that much because they seemed to have been getting corny, I think his first album was the best.

Then I read this book and I was shocked to and intrigued when I read about his life, from a toddler to who he is today. I respect the way he talks about his wife now and his kids and how much he loves them and that they are his life. I didn't not know that he had a drug problem, for some reason that really surprised me.

I was also surprised to find out that he was the one who came up with the "spelling" style of rap, that K-Solo bit off of him, for some reason I found that hard to believe.

I didn't like when he said that he was going to teach his son how to smoke his first blunt and that he was his dog first and his father second. When I read that I felt sorry for his son, because that means he is taking that dog stuff to seriously. He also bragged about giving his brother his first blunt and got him hook on weed. I wasn't too crazy about that but I guess that was the realness of the book.

Overall, the story was very interesting and I like to see autobiographies from my generation, especially those who game straight from the ghetto, like me.

Later!!!

Rating:
Summary: E.A.R.L.- Ever Always Real Life
Review: This book was one of the best books that I have ever read, and I am a very avid reader. Most autobiographies read like television documentaries and tend to leave out a lot of stuff. DMX keeps it as raw as could be. Starting out talking about how he constantly still has nightmares,Earl takes us on a journey through Yonkers where he grew up without a father and a mother who didn't care. Growing up people always referred to him as Crazy Earl and problem child, and he made it true for them. Resorting to robbing and stealing, Earl began his incarceration at the age of 10. Going from groups homes to the hole, he found lyrics to help ease all of the pain that he suffered. The only solace in his life came when he found his wife, Tashera, and then he was shown unconditional love. She stuck by his side through his drug addiction and was there for him when he got beaten up so badly his jaws were wired shut for four months. This book is a must read for young boys who think that they want to live a street life. This could also be an eye-opener for a lot of adults who don't understand rappers and "hoodlems. Most of these people don't chose this lifestyle, it chooses them and they have to live with it.

In the words of DMX,
"To live is to suffer, but to survive, well, that's to find meaning in the suffering".

Rating:
Summary: The Best Autobiography Ever...
Review: This book was the best autobiography...no the best book I have ever read. I read all the other reviews, and they weren't sayin' what they should have been sayin'. Did those people even read the book? Anyway, like his music his book is deep. You can't just read the book and judge it, you also have to know his music and his lyrics. If you know his lyrics before you read the book, then as you read everything his lyrics are saying just kind of falls in place. If you have second thoughts about this book than F**K you, just get and read it...i promise you won't be dissapointed.