Rap legend, Earl “DMX” Simmons’ ex-wife, Tashera Simmons, wrote a tribute post on the late rapper for her 50th birthday on Instagram.

Simmons celebrated her birthday on April 10, the day after her ex-husband died, and posted plethora of photos from childhood and adulthood to her wedding photos with the rapper.

She began her tribute post with, “Happy, happy birthday to me. April 10th, 1971. Wow what a ride. What a journey. As I come up the last 50 years of my life, I rejoice and I thank God for everything it has taught me.” she said. “The journey that it took me through. The hurt, the pain, the triumph, the resistance, the resilience, the learning lessons, the relationships, the power.”

 

In her post, Simmons also thanked the rapper for being her best friend, mentor, and spiritual partner.

“I also thank God for his life and his peace,” said Simmons. “And his journey and his life lessons that were passed on and that will live on for generations to come.”

Simmons began a relationship with the rapper when she was 18, married him in 1999, and shared four children together: Xavier, 28, Tacoma, 21, Sean, 18, and Praise Mary Ella, 15. VH1’s Behind the Music’s narrator, Jim Forbes reported that the couple was separated in 2006, due to his unresolved trauma, infidelities, and drug addiction.

In the documentary, Simmons discussed the downfall of their relationship when she said, “I told him, I will never leave him for drugs; that is definitely not the reason why we separated. You’re not going to have babies and do all of that other stuff. I’ve given you 17 years of my life, I’ve always been loyal, but he started taking advantage of that.”

Since the documentary, DMX and Simmons finalized their divorce in 2012 and mended their friendship before his death. The veteran rapper spoke about his relationship with his ex-wife, his new album and features, rise to fame since 1998, contributions to the rap game, and family life on the Revolt TV show, Drink Champs with rapper, N.O.R.E, and DJ EFN.

“It wasn’t the best decision being married, but, um, it just what it was. I went from being a grimy robbery n*** in Yonkers to all of a sudden, oh you cute, you handsome, you my baby daddy. My wife is a trooper, shout out to my wife, my ex-wife Tashera; she held on to a lot and we are still good friends,” said DMX.

DMX passed away last Friday after suffering a heart attack from an apparent drug overdose.