When DMX passed away in April 2021, the world mourned a hip-hop legend. But beyond the headlines and tributes, his family faced a deeply personal loss. Among them was Tacoma Simmons, one of DMX’s sons, who has spent years carving out his own identity away from the spotlight. Born into a household where fame and struggle coexisted, Tacoma has quietly pursued his own path in music while maintaining a notably private life.
Tacoma represents a new generation of artists who grew up watching their parents navigate celebrity. Unlike the typical celebrity offspring who chase social media fame, he’s chosen a different route. His streaming profiles show a musician working on his craft, and his locked Instagram account speaks volumes about his preference for privacy over publicity. For anyone curious about who Tacoma Simmons really is, the answer lies somewhere between his family background and his own creative pursuits.
Who is Tacoma Simmons?
Tacoma Simmons is the son of rapper DMX (Earl Simmons) and Tashera Simmons. Born on August 27, 1999, he grew up in Yonkers, New York, alongside several siblings in a household that experienced both the highs of musical success and the challenges that came with it. While many sources online list basic facts about him, Tacoma has remained notably private about his personal life.
Today, Tacoma works as a musical composer and artist. You can find his music on platforms like Apple Music, Audiomack, and TIDAL, where he’s released several tracks that showcase his own style. Unlike his father’s aggressive rap delivery, Tacoma’s approach to music leans more toward composition and production work. He’s built a small but growing presence in the streaming world without relying on his family name for attention.
What makes Tacoma’s story interesting is how deliberately low-key he keeps everything. His Instagram account stays private, and he rarely appears in public events or media interviews. This choice to stay out of the limelight sets him apart from many people who grow up in famous families.
Early life and family background
Tacoma grew up as part of a large blended family. His parents, DMX and Tashera Simmons, married in 1999 and had four children together before divorcing in 2014. Tacoma has three full siblings: Xavier, Praise Mary Ella, and Sean Simmons. Beyond his mother’s children, DMX fathered 15 kids total with different women, giving Tacoma a complex family tree with many half-siblings.
His mother, Tashera, played a central role in raising the children during a tumultuous period. While DMX battled addiction and legal troubles throughout Tacoma’s childhood, Tashera worked to provide stability at home. She’s spoken publicly about the challenges of maintaining a household while her husband struggled, and how she prioritized keeping the kids grounded despite the chaos.
Growing up in Yonkers meant Tacoma experienced a mix of working-class neighborhood life and the occasional perks of having a famous father. The family didn’t live in constant luxury. Money came and went depending on DMX’s career momentum and legal situations. Friends and family members have described the Simmons household as one where love existed alongside real hardship.
Growing up in the shadow of DMX
Having DMX as a father meant living with contradictions. On one hand, Tacoma had a dad who sold millions of albums and packed arenas. On the other hand, he watched his father cycle through rehab stints, arrests, and public struggles with addiction. This duality shaped how Tacoma viewed fame and public life.
DMX’s career peaked in the late 1990s and early 2000s, right around when Tacoma was born. His father’s albums like “It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot” and “Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood” dominated charts and established DMX as one of rap’s biggest stars. But success didn’t translate into a stable home life. The rapper’s battles with substance abuse and run-ins with law enforcement created an unpredictable environment.
Tacoma learned early that celebrity doesn’t shield you from pain. While his father performed for thousands, the family dealt with very human problems behind closed doors. This reality likely influenced Tacoma’s decision to keep his own life private. He saw firsthand how media attention can magnify personal struggles, and he’s chosen to avoid that same exposure.
Despite the difficulties, DMX loved his children. Those close to the family describe moments when he was present and engaged, teaching his kids about music and encouraging their interests. These glimpses of normalcy mattered to Tacoma and his siblings, even when things fell apart again.
Tacoma’s path to music
Music runs through the Simmons family DNA. Tacoma didn’t need to look far for inspiration. He grew up hearing beats, rhymes, and studio sessions as background noise to daily life. But instead of copying his father’s rap style, Tacoma gravitated toward composition and production.
Some early biographical pieces mention Tacoma working at Guitar Center, a music retail chain where many aspiring musicians start out. This job would have given him hands-on experience with instruments, equipment, and the technical side of music creation. It’s the kind of unglamorous beginning that builds real skill.
As a composer, Tacoma focuses on creating instrumental pieces and working behind the scenes. This role suits someone who prefers not to be front and center. You won’t find him performing at major venues or doing press tours. Instead, he uploads tracks to streaming platforms and lets the work speak for itself.
Notable releases & where to listen
Tacoma has released several singles and compositions available on Apple Music, where he maintains an official artist profile. His catalog includes instrumental tracks and collaborative pieces that show his range as a composer. TIDAL and Audiomack also host his music, making it accessible to listeners who prefer different platforms.
The tracks themselves reveal someone still developing their sound. They’re not commercial hits chasing radio play. They’re experiments in beat-making, melody construction, and mood creation. For listeners curious about his work, checking his Apple Music profile offers the most complete picture of his musical output so far.
Private life and social media presence
Tacoma’s Instagram account exists but remains locked to the public. This decision speaks to his priorities. In an era where most people his age share every detail online, choosing privacy feels almost radical. His account name is @tacomasimmons, and while you can follow him, you won’t see his posts unless he approves you.
His mother, Tashera, is more active on social media and occasionally shares family moments that include Tacoma. These glimpses show a young man who appears close to his siblings and values family time. But Tacoma himself doesn’t post publicly about his life, relationships, or daily activities.
This privacy extends beyond social media. Tacoma doesn’t do interviews, doesn’t attend red carpet events, and doesn’t use his father’s legacy as a promotional tool. He’s essentially living as a regular person who happens to have an extraordinary family background.
Public moments and ties to DMX’s legacy
The most visible Tacoma was during his father’s final days. In April 2021, DMX suffered a heart attack triggered by a drug overdose and was hospitalized in critical condition. Family members, including Tacoma, gathered at the hospital in White Plains, New York. Photos from outside the medical center showed some of DMX’s children arriving to be with their father.
When DMX passed on April 9, 2021, Tacoma lost his father at just 21 years old. The public memorial service at Barclays Center in Brooklyn drew thousands, and DMX’s children participated in honoring their father’s memory. While Tacoma didn’t speak publicly at these events, his presence alongside his siblings showed family unity during grief.
Since then, Tacoma has stayed out of public commemorations and hasn’t capitalized on his father’s legacy. He hasn’t released tribute songs or given memorial interviews. This restraint feels intentional, as if he’s protecting his grief from becoming content.
What Tacoma is doing now
Based on his streaming presence, Tacoma continues working on music. His Apple Music profile shows recent activity, suggesting he hasn’t abandoned his creative pursuits. Whether this music work generates significant income remains unclear, as he doesn’t publicize his earnings or career deals.
Some unverified sources speculate about Tacoma’s net worth, but these figures lack reliable backing. Without public contracts, endorsements, or transparent income sources, any number attached to his name is mostly guesswork. What matters more is that he’s actively creating and releasing work on his own terms.
At 25 years old now, Tacoma is still young enough to shift directions entirely. He might expand his music career, collaborate with bigger artists, or choose something completely different. The beauty of his current approach is that he’s kept his options open without burning bridges or creating drama that could close doors later.
Why Tacoma matters — a closing perspective
Tacoma Simmons represents something valuable in celebrity culture. He shows that you can honor your family’s legacy without being consumed by it. You can pursue creative work without making your entire life a performance. And you can be the child of someone famous without treating that connection as your primary identity.
His story matters to other people navigating similar situations. Growing up with a complicated parent doesn’t have to define you. You can acknowledge the pain and the love simultaneously. You can take the lessons without repeating the mistakes. Tacoma’s quiet path forward suggests he understands these truths.
For fans of DMX, Tacoma offers a different kind of connection to the rapper’s legacy. Not through imitation or exploitation, but through watching the next generation build something of their own. The music Tacoma creates may never reach his father’s commercial heights, but it doesn’t need to. It just needs to be his.
