With his unmistakable growl, hard-hitting lyrics, and electrifying presence, he became one of hip-hop’s biggest stars in the late 1990s and early 2000s. But behind the platinum albums and sold-out shows, DMX was locked in a battle for artistic freedom—a fight that centered around his independent label, Bloodline Records. His struggles to get Bloodline off the ground were met with resistance at every turn. Some believe this wasn’t just industry politics, but a deliberate effort to keep DMX fro...