Rapper DMX has been sentenced to one year in prison. This is for tax evasion and the sentence was handed right after his song Slippin was played in court.
You will remember that the rapper (real name is Earl Simmons) was sent to jail since his bail was revoked in January for failing to obey bail conditions. He had pleaded guilty to a tax evasion charge in November after he was arrested for failing to pay taxes on millions of dollars in income amassed from 2002 through 2005.
Days ago, his lawyer Murray Richman said in a court document shared on Monday that he wants to play a few DMX songs at his Thursday’s sentencing in Manhattan, adding that the music will help U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff “understand [DMX] genuinely in his voice” since the rapper may be too emotional to speak.
It was also added that if he was charged on every count he was originally charged with he could have faced up to 40 years behind bars. However, the prosecutors sought five years, while his lawyer begged for a lesser sentence, saying it would allow the rapper more opportunities to provide for his 15 children and pay off his massive tax bill.
And yesterday, his song was played in court and the judge in mercy handed him a one-year sentence.