DMX’s Bad Year Gets Even Worse
The old adage “when it rains, it pours” seems to be the key cliche for DMX’s 2008: He’s been hit with moving violations, raids on his house, and accusations that he’s been using aliases to get medical treatment. Friday, he was arrested in Miami after attempting a coke and marijuana run. And now he’s going to have to give up one of his Harlem real estate holdings, in part because of his failure to promote a couture line–for dogs.
The vacant, 18-foot wide property at 2007 Fifth Ave. and East 124th Street – near the fancy Marcus Garvey Park – is due to be auctioned on Aug. 13.
The sheriff’s sale should satisfy a judgment – totaling $281,000 with interest – resulting from a breach of contract lawsuit filed in 2004.
Ellenville, NY-based Amusing Diversions won the right to the judgment after doggedly pursuing the star, whose real name is Earl Simmons, for not promoting its line of dogwear.
Sources said other creditors will also have their hands out at the sale, which could reap over $1 million.
It’s kind of odd that DMX, who isn’t really all that nice to animals, would be a desirable fit for a company promoting anything dog-related. As it turns out, the guy in charge of sealing the DMX deal didn’t really do much research when he was pursuing the MC:
Ironically, Eric Arginsky, head of Amusing Diversions, initially pursued the gravelly voiced DMX to promote its urban doggie wear after hearing him in public service announcements urging folks to be kind to their animals.
But the rapper had earlier been ordered to make the PSA when he was found guilty of animal cruelty in 2002 after New Jersey officials found he’d mistreated his 14 pit bulls.
“He had the bark and the growl. . .but we were definitely sold a bill of goods,” said Arginsky, who intends to be present at the sale.
I kind of think that Arginsky should be dinged at least a little bit for, well, being a moron who was so enamored with the idea of “celebrity” that he didn’t actually find out about “the person behind the name.” But I don’t make the bankruptcy laws, so. RAPPER DMX IN FIFTH AVE. SCRAP [NYP] DMX Arrested In Miami For Trying To Buy Cocaine, Marijuana [MTV]
