Rapper DMX Denies Identity Theft

US rapper DMX has pleaded not guilty in court to two theft charges, including one of attempting to steal the identity of somebody else. The rapper, real name Earl Simmons, is accused of giving his name as Troy Jones to avoid paying for treatment at the Mayo Clinic in Arizona. After denying the charges at the Maricopa County Superior Court the star performed a rap to reporters outside. The 37-year-old is due to reappear in court on 12 August. As he emerged from the building, the musician started a rap about overcoming adversity. According to the Associated Press, it began: "If and when you ever fall down, get back up. "Drop something, stop fretting, pick that... back up, stand for something or fall for everything, wait for the right pitch or miss with every swing." Past history Simmons has been arrested by police on a number of previous occasions. In May he was held on suspicion of drug possession and animal cruelty when 12 dogs - allegedly neglected - were found at his home. Police also seized illegal drugs and several weapons. Earlier this month he was detained after failing to appear in court and for driving without a licence. In 2006 the musician served more than two months in New York's Rikers Island prison after identifying himself as a federal agent and driving his car into a gate at the city's John F Kennedy Airport. The musician has sold more than 20 million albums, with his first five albums topping the US pop chart in their week of release. He has also acted in several films, including action movies Cradle 2 The Grave and Exit Wounds.