DMX’s uncle criticizes Ruff Ryders and Swizz Beatz for allegedly failing to contribute to funeral expenses

Kanye West was instrumental in providing the late rap artist with a dignified funeral, according to X’s manager.

The former manager of DMX has spoken out about the purported lack of funding he received from several music business leaders to arrange the late rap artist’s funeral.

Details about his nephew’s homegoing funeral were revealed by Ray Copeland, X’s uncle and former manager, in an exclusive interview with AllHipHop.

Copeland claims that when he contacted X’s known friends and partners, he got a sluggish response. He specifically targeted Swizz Beatz and Ruff Ryders, the rapper’s longtime producer and label home.

Copeland told the magazine, “I was on the phone with everyone, including Ruff Ryders, Swizz Beatz, Steve Rifkind, and Def Jam, when it was time to bury X.” “I explained to them the price.” All of them said, “I don’t understand.” I responded, “Forget it,” and hung up the phone. I will assemble this on my own.

Following the rejection of his first appeals for financial support, Copeland made the decision to act independently and organized a sumptuous burial and memorial service at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

Germaine Miller and lawyer Ron Sweeney were among the few associates he called in to help fund $150,000 for the service, and he thanked them for their support.

Without Germaine Miller, I never would have been able to afford to bury my nephew. “She contributed all of the $150,000 for the funeral,” Copeland added, thanking her.

According to Copeland, rap artist Kanye West was another person who stepped up and “took care of everything at the Barclays Center.” 

However, even while he acknowledges that Def Jam Records, X’s record company at the time of his passing, eventually contributed to the funeral, he claims that Def Jam lied about the gesture by publicly asserting that the label paid for the entire event rather than just a portion of it.

“I only got $35,000 from Def Jam [later],” Copeland said. After the funeral, they told the media that they had covered the costs. That’s untrue. According to Copeland, the influence that X’s achievement had on many people’s lives—especially in terms of money—should have allowed him to enlist the help of his former acquaintances and coworkers.

The manager complained, “We were all made millionaires by this man.” Along with my family, I had to struggle to put this together. Give thanks to God for the relationships and individuals who loved him.

Copeland claimed that he was motivated to give his nephew the farewell he felt he deserved after becoming so frustrated with the seeming lack of support that he almost held a small, private service with X’s closest friends and family. 

“I nearly did it in Bronxville,” Copeland remarked. The entire family was with me. “Ray, you can’t do that,” they told me, though. The general people must bid adieu. So I completed it.

Despite acknowledging that X lacked a life insurance policy, Copeland believes that the outpouring of condolences and admiration on social media and elsewhere exceeded people’s genuine support for X at the time when it mattered most.

According to Copeland, “everyone posted tributes, hashtags, and statements.” However, silence prevailed when it came time to take concrete action.

As a correctional officer during X’s incarceration in the 1990s, Copeland reconnected with the rapper. He was an early supporter of X’s decision to pursue a career in music and remained one of the hitmaker’s closest confidants until his passing.

Copeland acknowledges that his nephew’s contempt may have been foretelling when he considers X’s apprehension about the record industry and its leaders.

“I don’t have any friends in the industry,” he would usually say, Copeland recalled. “And he was correct. It became apparent when he passed.