Standing shoulder to shoulder with close family and friends, Kanye West, Eve, and Nas were among those who came together this weekend to celebrate the life of rapper DMX, who passed away on April 9. Held at Brooklyn’s Barclays Centre, West and his Sunday Service choir led the tributes with an evocative rendition of “Keep on Moving”.
While musical eulogies took to the stage, West had also enlisted the services of Balenciaga, with the label designing a limited run of DMX t-shirts that dropped over the weekend. The long sleeve shirts, which feature a Christ-like rendering of the late musician, were launched on DMX-tribute.com and sold out in just 24 hours. According to TMZ, the shirts, which went for $200 a pop, brought in over $1 million in sales, with all proceeds going back to DMX’s family.
“BALENCIAGA HAS BEEN ASKED BY YEEZY TO DESIGN A T-SHIRT IN TRIBUTE TO THE LATE ARTIST EARL SIMMONS, AKA DMX,” the website reads, “IN MEMORY”. The commemorative collaboration is testament to the unwavering impact that Simmons had on the worlds of both fashion and music. Yet, as the weekend’s homage can evidence, the deepest legacy DMX leaves behind are on those who knew him personally. “Our father is a king, our father is an icon,” DMX’s eldest son Xavier Simmons said. “I am so honoured to have a father like we have. This man deepened my ability to love.”