A mural honoring DMX went up Tuesday morning in Yonkers, New York, only three months after his untimely death from a cocaine-induced heart attack on April 9. Street artist Floyd Simmons began work on the colossal memorial in May and officially unveiled it to the public Tuesday, July 13. Simmons, a New York City-based artist, also created Big L’s mural on 139th and Lenox in Harlem.
The memorial will be located in the parking lot of Calcagno Houses, a public housing project where DMX formerly resided. The artwork itself is colossal and measures 35 by 22 feet. Simmons’ portrays a solemn DMX in his signature chains and a verse from his 1998 single “Look Thru My Eyes.
New DMX Mural To Be Unveiled Today Outside Of Yonkers Housing Projects Rapper Once Lived In https://t.co/BHcCS2qc7N pic.twitter.com/QzUvz4j4ok
— PaperChaserDotCom (@PaperChaserBlog) July 13, 2021
The mural was supposed to be finished weeks ago, but a series of setbacks slowed it down. Yonkers experienced an unprecedented heatwave followed by rain which created a delay for the street artist. After wedging it between a cherry picker and the wall, Simmons broke his pinky finger in the middle of production. Simmons said that painting DMX’s trademark chains were his favorite part in an Instagram post on May 29.
After spending a week in a coma following a major heart attack, the 50-year-old hip-hop legend died on April 9. DMX’s music influenced millions of people worldwide, and his iconic legacy will live on in perpetuity.
Written By: John Galietta
Instagram: jgalietta17