Judge Blocks DMX’s Ex-Wife from Claiming Half of His Music Catalog

A New York judge just hit the brakes on Tashera Simmons’ attempt to claim half of her late ex-husband’s, DMX, music and intellectual property.

She filed a lawsuit last year against his estate, pointing to their 2016 divorce agreement. But Judge David F. Everett wasn’t having it.

That agreement, he ruled, “does not confer ownership.”

In the judge’s words: “The estate is the sole owner of all intellectual property rights [that] Earl Simmons acquired during his marriage to plaintiff, as well as any and all other trademarks and intellectual property rights that belonged to Earl Simmons at the time of his death.”

Tashera tried to argue that the “intellectual property” mentioned in their divorce deal included his full catalog. But DMX had made it clear before he passed that it only meant royalty payments.

Judge Everett added: “Under the circumstances of this case, the court will not, in effect, reopen those proceedings to reinterpret the parties’ 2016 settlement agreement, particularly where the party best positioned to contest a contrary interpretation is now deceased.”

DMX and Tashera were married for 16 years and had four kids together—Xavier, Tacoma, Sean, and Praise Mary Ella. During that time, DMX dropped bangers like “Ruff Ryders’ Anthem” and “Party Up (Up In Here).” They split in 2013, and wrapped up the divorce in 2016. DMX died in 2021 at age 50.

The ruling lands almost exactly four years after his death.

Still, Tashera didn’t walk away empty-handed. Judge Everett let her $214,000 child support claim stand, for now, saying tossing it out this early would be “premature.”