DMX
Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImage

Back in September, constantly embattled rapper DMX announced that he was planning on putting his mic skills aside and letting his fists do the talking, as he was booked for a professional mixed martial arts fight against a member of his management team in December. But we may never know how good a kickboxer X is. His camp confirmed to MTV News that X has pulled out of the Alabama Pride match.

While X has never fought professionally before, his booked opponent Eric Martinez has a professional MMA win. Over the weekend, TMZ reported that there was a disagreement between X and promoter Thunder Productions, specifically that the rapper had demanded that the fight be fixed in his favor. The site obtained an unsigned document purported to an addendum X's manager tried to make to the original fight agreement, stating that "Artist is scheduled to win" the match.

AllHipHop.com reported that Thunder is considering whether or not to bring a lawsuit against DMX for backing out.

But the fight, scheduled for Saturday, December 12 in Birmingham, Alabama — may still go on. According to TMZ, Thunder has tapped rapper Coolio to step into X's shoes and square off against Martinez. Like DMX, Coolio doesn't have any formal fight training, but according to TMZ's source at Thunder, he has been cooperative and "is going to take this seriously."

Tickets for the event — including plenty of ringside seats — are still available.

• DMX

DMX
Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImage

After years of run-ins with the law, DMX has largely kept his name out of the headlines since his release from jail in May. And while he's scheduled to participate in a mixed-martial arts bout in December, X (born Earl Simmons), got into an unexpected scuffle on Friday night in Colorado Springs when he showed up to a charity show only to be barred from taking the stage.

According to amateur video of the incident, when X and his crew arrived at the Phil Long Expo Center for the show on Friday, they were confronted by venue security, who threatened to arrest the rapper and his entourage if they tried to take the stage. Explaining that the frequently tardy MC — who arrived after 11 p.m. — was supposed to perform at 9:30, security guards attempted to block DMX from taking the stage.

"Earl's DJ went out to do soundcheck and the promoter said he was trying to build up the crowd, so he said, as opposed to 9 p.m., could you have him here at 11 p.m.?" explained X's manager, Nakia Walker. "[His road manager] said that was fine and she called me because the promoter had said they have permits that say they had to close at a certain time, but if that's what he's saying, that's fine." According to Walker, when X's DJ pulled up at 11, followed shortly after by the rapper, he was told that the MC would not be performing because he was late.

"X is a different man now, and in the past he would have gotten angry and blown up, but he gets out and sees people leaving and sees them angry and he starts a prayer in the parking lot to get them calmed down," she said. "Now the crowd is following him back into the building and security is trying to prevent him from getting on the stage." X finally made it to the stage, by which point the sound gear was mostly packed up, preventing him from performing.

While a number of online accounts have claimed that a riot broke out over the incident, and Walker claimed that the local SWAT team was called out when a fan yelled 'F--- the police," Colorado Springs Police Department spokesperson Lieutenant David Whitlock said there was no disturbance to speak of.

"I don't even know if 'clash' is the right word [to describe the scuffle with security officers]," Whitlock said. "It was a minor dispute between the security guards and Mr. Simmons, and our officers never had any contact with Mr. Simmons. It was hardly a riot." Whitlock did clarify that his officers were not involved in preventing X from performing and that no one was arrested in the incident.

X's publicist, Pam Pinnock, said she was injured in the scuffle and though she did not suffer a concussion, as reported, she did have "minor face cuts from someone's boots when I fell and they jumped across my head" as well as some scratches on one of her knees when she got knocked down by a fan rush.

As seen in the fan video of the incident, X was angry when told he couldn't take the stage and informed that fans had already been told he wouldn't be showing up. At one point, a security guard threatened to arrest DMX if he tried to get onstage, to which X responded, "[Arrest me] for what? You ain't no police. I've been paid to perform."

Reps for the promoter of the show, Soulclay Entertainment, could not be reached for comment.

The gig was a slated to be a fundraiser for American Charities, a local non-profit emergency food pantry and clothing center. Along with DMX, the show was supposed to feature appearances from a number of local MCs, including Black Pegasus, Macatic Crew, I AM HIP ROCK, Ti'Jean, Hustle Hard Records artists J Blev, Dirty, Mr. Money (a.k.a. Texas Tycoon), DJ MyzlerE and Dee Jay Bee, according to a press release announcing the gig.

A spokesperson for American Charities, co-director Keith Courlas, said his group was supposed to get 50 percent of the net proceeds from the show at the 14,000-seat venue, but with fewer than 500 fans in attendance — more than half of whom he said got tickets from the promoter or other acts on the bill — his organization did not receive any funds.

"The rider called for him [DMX] to perform from 9-10 p.m.," said Courlas. "The last time we had a rap show in Colorado Springs, it was a band called E-40 and there were a lot of fights and a stabbing in the parking lot, so security, sound and everyone was concerned about the safety at the DMX show. So, our commitment was that the show would end no later than 11 p.m., and that we would try to have everyone out by 10:30."

According to Courlas, the venue staff and security were contracted until 11 p.m., with sound contracted until 10:30. After getting a $7,500 deposit, he said X's team called Soulclay to say they would not arrive until 10 p.m., so the opening acts were pushed back. When X's road manager called back after 10 p.m. to say they would arrive at 11 p.m. instead, Courlas said they were told that wouldn't work and they were asked to come to the venue immediately.

"At around 5 till 11, the sound and security came to us and said, 'This is not your decision anymore, that's it,' " Courlas said. "By this time, the lights were on and the crowd was told DMX would not be performing. People were filing out [with] no problem, mostly because there were very few people there and when he arrived the 75-100 who were left got angry because they now believed he was there and would be performing."

Walker said she has not been able to reach Soulclay Entertainment since before the show, but she believes X was barred from taking the stage because the promoter did not sell enough tickets to pay the rapper the remainder of his fee.

• DMX

DMX
Photo: Jason Kempin/FilmMagic

Throughout his career, DMX has battled personal demons, rival rappers and label politics. His next fight, though, won't be anything like his previous challenges. And it's unclear whether that's a good thing or a bad thing.

The often-troubled rapper is scheduled to participate in an unregulated mixed martial arts fight on December 12 in Alabama's Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex as part of the "Alabama Pride" event. X will actually be pitted against a member of his new management team, according to Hot 97 news guru Miss Info. The rapper's opponent, Eric Martinez, is an Arizona entrepreneur and a onetime MMA competitor with a single win under his belt. DMX has never appeared in a match of this kind before.

The puzzling move is the latest misstep in the rapper's once storied career that saw him become the second rapper to release two #1 albums in the same year. He was released from prison in May after spending the majority of 2008 in and out of court in Arizona and Florida on a number of charges, including fraud, drug possession and animal cruelty. He's since returned to work, appearing on the remix of former Ruff Ryders labelmate Jadakiss' "Who's Real."

Last week in New York, appearing at VH1's "Hip Hop Honors,", X said he intends to release two albums simultaneously soon. Back in January 2008, he told MTV News about his plans to release a traditional hip-hop album along with a gospel LP.

"I'm hungry, I'm grounded," X told MTV News on the red carpet. "I've always been grounded. But I'm hungrier. There's so much bullsh-- out there. I'm not gonna get into the names. You know who you are. There's so much bullsh-- out there. The streets won't let me forget that they need me and I need them."

• DMX

DMX & KRS-One
Photo: Jemal Countess/WireImage

Celebrity Favorites

"That's the maaaan! That's the maaaan, right there! That's the maaaan!"

The booming voice delivering the props was instantly recognizable to anyone within earshot. DMX had just arrived on the red carpet at VH1's "Hip Hop Honors" in Brooklyn last week and caught sight of KRS-One.

"Don't even start it, that's the man," the Blastmaster said back to X.

The New York icons instantly hugged and connected. It's the kind of behind-the-scenes moment that makes events like these so memorable, when legends turn into fans and exchange compliments like business cards.

"You got me through two years up north with 'The Bridge Is Over,' " the Dog told the Bronx bomber. "Real talk. Real talk. You got me through it, baby. You got me through it."

KRS-One pulled X beside him and then began talking to MTV News about this year's Hottest MCs list. Even though DMX has as many New York hits as Derek Jeter, due to recent troubles — like a three-month prison sentence for animal-cruelty, drug and fraud charges — he hasn't been active musically for a while. But the Teacher put up the case for X anyway.

"DMX, everything this brother spits is hot," KRS said. "Everything. This is the heat right here. When I stand next to MCs, this is who I wanna stand next to. This brother gets it in. And not many cats that make hit records can also get it in on the mic. It's sorta like you trade in one for the other: You make a hit, you leave the streets. You stay in the streets, you can't make a hit. This right here, [though,] is living proof. Get at me, dog."

"If I'm the heat, this is the fuel," X countered. "This is the fuel that's off the heat. It's an honor, real talk."

VH1's "Hip Hop Honors" air on October 13.

For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines.

• Mixtape Daily: DJ Khaled, Lil Wayne, DMX, KRS-One And More

• DMX
• KRS-One

DMX
Photo: MTV News

Is the Dog really back? That's the word according to DMX. The booming, barking MC has made headlines for all the wrong reasons during the past few years, but after serving time in an Arizona jail, X has been nothing short of a model citizen.

But now he's getting back to what he does best: rapping. X hopped on the Ruff Ryders remix of Jadakiss' "Who's Real" and recently performed at VH1's "Hip Hop Honors," displaying his trademark sneer during his turn in the spotlight for "Party Up."

"I'm hungry, I'm grounded," X told MTV News from the red carpet. "I've always been grounded. But I'm hungrier. There's so much bullsh-- out there. I'm not gonna get into the names. You know who you are. There's so much bullsh-- out there. The streets won't let me forget that they need me and I need them."

The Yonkers-bred MC said he plans to deliver two albums soon and wants them to drop on the same day. He didn't go into detail, but the former Def Jam superstar could be reviving his plan to release a traditional rap album as well as a gospel album.

DMX's longtime producer Swizz Beatz spoke to Mixtape Daily and said that he is getting back to form quickly. Swizz will likely serve as executive producer of the next X album. But don't get excited just yet — Swizz said he first wants to secure the ideal situation for the only rapper to release two #1 albums in the same year.

"I wanna have the proper setup where he's getting a fair chance and the most attention and most respect right now," Swizz explained. "I'm not putting nothing out until we have the lineup together, which we're close to having, and the streets are going to witness that raw uncut street element. X was doing $16 million movies and sleeping outside, just because that's where he felt comfortable. He's the realest in the game. He never was on no jewelry, no cars. X, he's one artist that I truly know is a real artist. It don't get no more real than X."

• DMX

Swizz Beatz and DMX
Photo: Kristy Leibowitz/Getty Images

The O.D.: A Mixtape Daily Exclusive
You can never front on the legacy of DMX or the Ruff Ryders. We all know about the loudest Ruff Ryder's troubles the last few years, but Swizz Beatz says the Dog is clean and back in the studio.

"Me and X probably have the realest of realest talks," Swizz said of his close friend. "If a person don't wanna help themselves, then there's nothing you can do. The good thing is that X is willing to help himself. I know the X I can work with, I know the X I cannot work with. Right now [he] is the X I can work with. That's why he's on the ['Who's Real'] remix smashing it and we got about seven other records that, if we put out right now, it would mess everybody up.

"But I wanna have the proper setup where he's getting a fair chance and the most attention and most respect right now," Swizz added. "I'm not putting nothing out until we have the lineup together, which we're close to having, and the streets are going to witness that raw uncut street element. X was doing $16 million movies and sleeping outside, just because that's where he felt comfortable. He's the realest in the game. He never was on no jewelry, no cars. X, he's one artist that I truly know is a real artist. It don't get no more real than X."

As for the Ruff Ryders coming back together, Swizz said, "100 percent." While a compilation may be held back due to business reasons, he says everyone — the LOX, Eve, Drag-On as well as DMX — is working on their separate projects to drop soon.

The Streets Is Talking: News and Notes From The Underground
Now that Raekwon has released one of the most talked about hip-hop sequel albums ever, who would the Chef like to see a sequel from?

"That's a mean question," he told us recently in New York. "I'd like to see Nas do another Illmatic. See Snoop do another [Doggystyle]. I'd like to see Hov do another Reasonable Doubt. I'd like to Slick Rick come back with the another Great Adventures of Slick Rick. I'd like to see Rakim do another Paid in Full. ... I'm hip-hop for real. We could go on for days. I would like to see another Criminal Minded [from Boogie Down Productions].

"These are dudes that really initiated the boat to really rock the right way," he continued. "I'm gonna always respect the classics until the young G's show me they really understand it, rather than just looking at it as being a rapper with the bling on and the Phantom parked outside and the girls and the bling on and the paparazzi. I wanna see skills come back to the table. I wanna see creativity come back to the table. I wanna see art. Just do your work. Do what you supposed to do to make us say, 'He stepped his game up.' Shout to the young G's doing their thing though."

Rae isn't sure about the future of the Cuban Linx series of albums — it depends on the fans.

"We at that question already?" he smiled when we asked him about the game plan for Cuban Linx III. "Right now, that's not even thought about. I want people to suck up this album. If the fans start getting on me and I feel like they respect what I do ... I'm looking to see all the people who been talking about II, I'm gonna see where y'all at. I'm looking at the charts and sales and everything to really feel like, 'OK, III is worth it because II showed me they wasn't fronting on me. You never know."

For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines.

• Mixtape Daily Video: Wu-Tang, DMX, Lil Wayne And More

• DMX
• Swizz Beatz

Swizz Beatz
Photo: Full Surface

Behind The Beats: Swizz Beatz, Part 1

What's good, homies? For this section, we usually go hard in the studio with one of the top producers or DJs, but this is Swizzy — he always has a million things going down. And when the superproducer calls and gives you a couple of exclusives, why wait? Furthermore, Swizz is bigger than the studio. You can catch him in an art gallery, shooting a video in Dubai or even at Whitney Houston's album-listening session. Homes keeps himself active in all aspects of entertainment.

"I seen something on the cover of the XXL: 'The Death of the Super-Producer?' " Swizz said. "It was on the cover. I was like, 'I hope the f--- they not talking about me.' "

Swizz's career demise seems unfathomable. Besides Houston, he's working on that new DMX album, as well as some tracks for Jay-Z's Blueprint 3.

"I've been kicking since '98," Swizz said, "That's what I told Hova: 'We did it in '99, and we 'bout to do it in '09.' That's a blessing. I've been around.

"I'm starting to feel like a senior citizen," Swizz laughed. "I have people coming to me, saying, 'I started to listen to you when I was 9.' But I gotta remember: I started when I was, like, 16, 17. I'mma be 31 in September. Sh-- is crazy."

Swizz said he and Jay should finish up some of their new work together this weekend.

"I like the album," Swizz said of Blueprint 3. "He gotta say a lot. You know who to come through for the gutter [beats]. He just called me from London, spazzin'. Me and Jay, we're so much into the art of music, and we're great friends. This album, we happened to get into a little bit. That sh-- is super fun. We're still working."

Next Wave Of Flav

On DMX's hip-hop album: "By him not coming out on Summer Jam gave us the freedom to do everything we're doing right now [to make the album at our own pace]," Swizzy said. "I'm about to drop this joint that was supposed to be DMX and Jada, but it's gonna be DMX and Eve. I want people to hear Eve in that hard element again. X is on his A-game. They're in trouble. Just the lineup of music I have already done, ignorant! X is gonna come back so crazy. They are both on the way."

On DMX's gospel album: "I'mma let him do his thing later," Swizz said. "Now we gotta stay focused on what we gotta do. We gonna do the gospel later. But if we do the gospel album, it's gotta be with the official gospel people: Mary Mary, this one, that one. I want it to be something that even in the gospel realm is respected."

On the next Swizz Beatz album: "I paused up on my album sh--," he said. "I'm on a different level of expressing myself. I'd rather express musically than lyrically. But any minute, I can go in the studio and jump on some sh-- I made for somebody else and not wanna give it to them."

The Streets Is Talking: News & Notes From the Underground

"Gucci Mane Starring as Mr. T"? What's up with that? That's what's advertised on the new Gucci and DJ Drama mixtape The Movie Part 2.

"That's Gucci Mane," Drama said. "I'm assuming it's a jewelry thing. I think Gucci is trying to go for the crown, as far as jewels. I told him he's the new Slick Rick."

The duo have been putting this tape together slowly since Gucc was released from prison several months ago.

"Drumma Boy did almost half the tape, if not more," Dram said. "Drumma has a great working relationship. Just like Drumma did most of the first tape. He's been working ever since he got out. We went through a bunch of ideas for the tape. We even toyed with the idea of it being a freestyle tape over instrumentals. But Gucci being Gucci, and the project being a 'movie,' he wanted to go in like the first one and it being almost an album-like project.

"One thing I like about this time, it being 'the movie' and it being a sequel, it's a lot of 'Also Starring.' The tape starts off with 'The Movie Intro,' " Dram said. "You have an awesome intro, then you have 'Pressure.' Real gutter beat. Willie Da Kid is on that beat. Gucci is also spitting. Then it goes into 'Burr.' I put 'Burr' at the top of the tape because people have been taking Gucci's slang. 'Burr' is his explanation of what 'burr' means. Then you have 'Beat It Up' with Trey Songz. 'Lay It Down' is another monster song with Nicki Minaj and Shawnna — the female side of things. I think them two are the [female] front-runners. The girls gonna love that. The tape is really The Movie. It's a bigger blockbuster. Bigger budget. On the tape, I say, 'It's the Transformers. Call me Optimus Dram.' "

For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines.

• Mixtape Daily: Swizz Beatz, Slim Da Mobster, Raekwon

• Cory Gunz Mixtape Daily Shoot, 07.15.2009

• Swizz Beatz
• Jay-Z
• DMX

DMX (file)
Photo: Tom Tingle/AP Photo

Rapper DMX (born Earl Simmons) was released from an Arizona jail early Thursday morning (May 14), after serving more than three months on fraud, drug and animal-cruelty charges.

X was originally sentenced to serve 90 days in the infamous "Tent City" jail in Maricopa County, Arizona, but following an alleged altercation with a corrections officer in February, he was rebooked on suspicion of aggravated assault and his sentence was extended. A spokesperson for the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office did not return calls for comment, but X's new publicist, Pam Pinnock, confirmed the release on Thursday.

"He was released on bail and went home this morning, and he was having breakfast with his family when I talked to him," Pinnock told MTV News early Thursday afternoon.

The rapper is due back in court on May 19 in connection with the aggravated assault charge, which stemmed from an incident in which Simmons reportedly threw a tray of food at a prison guard.

To announce the release, Pinnock released a statement on Thursday titled, "The biggest, baddest, dog is back." The press release informed talent buyers and promoters that "actor and Rapper DMX has been released from Tent City Jail in Phoenix, AZ, and will be making special appearances in certain markets and cities through the month of May only. The multi-platinum recording artist DMX will celebrate his new beginning in his career by finishing up his album working with Swizz Beatz and other well-known producers. He is in the process of reading scripts for several movie roles and major television shows."

Pinnock said that in addition to working on his new studio album, You'll Fly With Me Later, X is up for doing guest appearances on other people's songs. There was no word on X's equally long-delayed gospel CD. "He's in good spirits," she told MTV. "He won't focus on the past; he's very optimistic about the future."

In December, DMX pleaded guilty to animal cruelty, drug possession and theft, but this was after he had to be extradited from Florida last year. Following X's failure to appear in court for a hearing, the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office offered a $5,000 reward for his capture. FBI agents finally arrested him at a home owned by troubled hip-hop producer Scott Storch.

The release caps what has been a troubling few years for the Yonkers-bred MC, who has faced multiple arrests in both Florida and Arizona on drug charges, as well as an investigation into allegations that he had mistreated some of the many dogs he housed on his Arizona property. Despite attempt to relaunch his stalled career with a promised new hip-hop album and the accompanying gospel effort, X has not released any new music since 2006's lackluster Year of the Dog ... Again.

At one point, he was rumored to be checking into VH1's "Celebrity Rehab" show, but that report was later denied by his spokesperson. X also announced recently that he was planning on starring in a reality show called "Pain and Perseverance," chronicling the launch of his Christian ministry, but Pinnock said that concept has also been shelved.

According to Pinnock's statement, X will be jumping right back into the game, with "appearances at certain concerts and special events to let his fans know that the DOG is back," beginning with an event scheduled for Thursday night at an unnamed venue in Phoenix.

Other upcoming DMX appearances:

May 15 - Phoenix, AZ
May 16 - Las Vegas, NV
May 17 - Las Vegas, NV
May 21 - Los Angeles, CA
May 22 - Los Angeles, CA
May 23 - Albuquerque, NM
May 24 - Denver, CO 
May 29 - Atlanta, GA
May 30 - Houston, TX
May 31 - Dallas, TX

• DMX

DMX
Photo: Johnny Nunez/ WireImage

Troubled rapper DMX may have put a damper on his plans to become a pastor upon his release from prison. According to The Associated Press, X (born Earl Simmons), is facing an additional eight years in jail after he allegedly threw a tray of food at a Maricopa County detention officer. The incident resulted in X being booked on felony aggravated assault charges on Wednesday.

The 38-year-old rapper, who is serving a 90-day jail sentence after pleading guilty on December 30 to felony charges of theft, drug possession and a misdemeanor animal-cruelty charge, reportedly became upset on Sunday when he was told he couldn't have a meal he took from a serving tray. Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio said DMX threw the tray at an officer, who was not injured in the incident. Though he didn't physically strike the guard, the act meets the jail's definition of assault.

X was already on a bread-and-water diet after being punished for an earlier rules violation at the jail on February 8. The Arizona Republic reported that earlier this month, X refused to report for a work assignment and didn't respond to calls for his medication later in the day. When he reportedly became agitated later in the day after not receiving his medication, a supervisor attempted to intervene and was said to be the subject of a "profanity-laced tirade" from the rapper. Thereafter, X was placed in lockdown.

The Phoenix New Times reported that once in lockdown, inmates don't get normal jail food but something called "Nutra-loaf," a "gross slab of mystery food." According to the paper, when an officer went to pass out the evening meal on Sunday, X allegedly grabbed a meal that wasn't his. When the officer told him to hand back the food, DMX reportedly responded by throwing the tray and yelling, 'F--- you!' "

In addition to 90 days in prison, DMX was sentenced in late January to serve 18 months of supervised probation, but a conviction on the new assault charge could jeopardize the terms of his probation and add a significant amount of additional jail time.

According to TMZ, DMX released a statement on Wednesday, in which he wrote, "Many of you know me as DMX, but right now I am speaking to you as Earl Simmons. Just a man trying to serve my time peacefully in order to put all this behind me, so I can carry on with my normal life. The truth of the matter is, in the eyes of many, I am not just a normal man but rather a celebrity, which can be a blessing and a [curse]. Since I have begun to serve my sentence, I have not been given any special treatment but it has actually been the opposite. For the record, I want to state 'I Did Not' physically touch or hit an officer. This is just another attempt to destroy my credibility."

DMX's lawyer could not be reached for comment at press time.

• DMX

DMX
Photo: Paul Redmond/ WireImage

DMX spent a lot of time in Arizona in 2008, mostly making court dates and appearing before a judge. Now the fallen rap star sits in a Phoenix jail cell as he awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to multiple charges (animal cruelty, drug possession and theft) in December.

But after X serves his time, he says he's never returning to the state he once called home.

"I'm not looking back," he explained to Fox 10, a local TV affiliate, in an exclusive interview from jail. "I'm not coming back. I'm not coming back for a show. I'm not coming back for a visit. I'm not even driving through the state. If I'm on a plane and they're flying through, I'm gonna go around."

The rapper said he fell in love with Arizona after a late-night studio session a few years ago. He watched the sun rise and said he felt as if he had landed in "God's country." He quickly discovered otherwise, though.

"I met the devil in God's country," X said. "It's not so much who [was the devil], it's what happens and the things that the devil does. It's not so much a person, even though he acts through people. You can't call any one person the devil. Because no one person has the power to be the devil."

DMX denied implying that local sheriff Joe Arpaio was the devil he referred to. In interviews, the hard-nosed law official made no bones about wanting to bring the rapper to justice. Arpaio calls himself "America's toughest sheriff" and gained notoriety for stripping NBA superstar Shaquille O'Neal of his honorary police badge after the basketball player's explicit freestyle rap about Kobe Bryant.

DMX, for his part, said he's completed the gospel album he told MTV News about last January. The rapper, who had a penchant for including moving prayers on each of his albums, said he's spending more time with the Bible as he sits in 23-hour lockdown. His plan after his release is to move forward with his transition to becoming a pastor. X has long talked about becoming a prominent member of a church. The rapper believes he's been put in his situation to help someone.

"I came here to meet somebody," he said. "I don't know who it is, but I came to tell them that Jesus loves them. To tell them about the glory of God."

In the roughly 10-minute interview, DMX also discussed his fiancée (based in Miami, where the rapper has also had a number of run-ins with the law), his eight children and his plans to star in a reality show called "Pain & Perseverance."

"I can reach people the average person can't reach because I'm as grounded as I am," he said.

DMX is scheduled to be sentenced January 30 in an Arizona superior court.

• DMX

'VH1 Hip Hop Honors' 2009

• Eminem
• Rick Ross (Hip-Hop)
• DMX
• Public Enemy
• Foxy Brown

Luda, Fab, Eve And More Show Up For VH1's 'Hip Hop Honors'

• Ludacris
• Fabolous
• DMX
• KRS-One
• Gym Class Heroes

DMX, 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks, More At Hot 97's Back To School Jam '06

• 50 Cent
• DMX
• Lloyd Banks
• Tony Yayo
• Mobb Deep

Sucker Free Week Photos 2006

• Kelis
• Mary J. Blige
• Rick Ross (Hip-Hop)
• DMX
• Mobb Deep

Sucker Free Week Photos: DMX

• DMX

Sucker Free on MTV: Spring 2006

• Pitbull
• E-40
• Ghostface Killah
• Chris Brown
• Lil Wayne

Yellowstone

• DMX

Making the Video: DMX

• DMX

Diary of DMX, Part II

• DMX

"Never Die Alone" Photos

• DMX