Earl “DMX” Simmons’ longtime supervisor and uncle, Ray Copeland, identified within the music trade as Uncle Ray, says he found out find out how to cowl the late rapper’s funeral prices after document labels and music associates refused to contribute.

In an unique interview with AllHipHop, Copeland stated he pulled collectively a consortium of those that put up $150,000 to prepare DMX’s 2021 funeral. Copeland stated he initially obtained little to no monetary help from Ruff Ryders, Def Jam Data or different trade figures who have been intently affiliated with the artist.

“When it was time to bury X, I used to be on the telephone with all people, Ruff Ryders, Swizz Beatz, Steve Rifkind, Def Jam,” Copeland stated. “I instructed them what it was going to price. Everyone stated, ‘I ain’t acquired it.’ So I hung up the telephone and stated, ‘Neglect it. I’ll put this collectively myself.’”

Copeland stated your entire funeral, together with the high-profile memorial at Brooklyn’s Barclays Middle, was organized by way of his personal efforts, with assist from enterprise affiliate Germaine Miller and lawyer Ron Sweeney.

“If it weren’t for Germaine Miller, I might have by no means buried my nephew financially. She put all the cash up for the funeral – all $150,000,” Copeland stated in a textual content message exterior of an in-studio interview.

At WonWorld Studios, he defined that he did get assist later, but it surely didn’t cowl every little thing. “Def Jam [later] gave me $35,000, that’s it. They later instructed the media they paid for the funeral. That’s not true. Kanye West took care of every little thing on the Barclays Middle,” he stated.

DMX died on April 9, 2021, on the age of fifty, following a coronary heart assault. His dying sparked an outpouring of tributes from followers and friends, however Copeland says that when the time got here to deal with his burial, few stepped ahead to assist financially.

“This artificial us all millionaires,” Copeland stated. “And I needed to battle to place this along with my household.”

He confirmed that the rapper didn’t have a life insurance coverage coverage. “Thank God for those who beloved him and good relationships,” he stated.

Copeland additionally disputed a number of particulars concerning the public notion of DMX’s funeral, together with viral photos exhibiting a crimson monster truck carrying a casket by way of Brooklyn.

“X was not on high of that truck,” he stated. “I wouldn’t enable it as a result of it wasn’t protected. His physique was within the hearse behind me going to the Barclays Middle. He didn’t depart the funeral residence till the day of the service.”

He stated he even thought-about holding a personal funeral in Bronxville, New York, earlier than deciding to proceed with a public memorial after talking with members of the family.

“I nearly did it proper there in Bronxville,” Copeland stated. “I had all of the household collectively. However they instructed me, ‘Ray, you may’t do this. The general public must say goodbye.’ So I completed it out.”

DMX, a Yonkers native, rose to fame within the late Nineteen Nineties with Ruff Ryders Leisure and Def Jam Recordings, releasing a string of multi-platinum albums together with It’s Darkish and Hell Is Sizzling and Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood. Identified for his uncooked power, gravelly voice, and religious depth, he turned one of many defining artists of Hip-Hop’s golden period.

Regardless of his industrial success, Copeland stated DMX usually felt disconnected from the trade and cautious of these round him.

“He at all times stated, ‘I ain’t acquired no pals within the trade,’” Copeland recalled. “And he was proper. When he handed, it confirmed.”

The funeral at Barclays Middle drew 1000’s of followers and featured tributes from his household and musical friends. Nonetheless, Copeland’s remarks forged new mild on what was occurring behind the scenes, elevating questions on accountability and loyalty inside the music enterprise.

“Everyone put out statements, hashtags, and tributes,” Copeland stated. “However when it got here time to really do one thing…silence.”

Makes an attempt to achieve reps for Def Jam and Ruff Ryders Leisure have been unsuccessful.

This was Uncle Ray’s first interview. The total dialog with Chuck “Jigsaw” Creekmur and DJ Thoro might be launched quickly.

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