Rare 1980s Footage of DMX as “Divine Master Unknown” Unearthed -

A rare time capsule from hip-hop’s golden era has emerged — a full freestyle performance of DMX from the 1980s, back when he went by the name Divine Master Unknown. The unearthed footage captures a teenage Earl Simmons in raw form, showcasing the hunger and lyrical edge that would later make him a global icon.

Following the vintage freestyle, the video features an exclusive interview segment with Yonkers 1st Lady and Sauce Dorsey, two respected voices in the community who walk viewers through Yonkers’ deep musical roots and its early rap battles inside School 12, the creative breeding ground where DMX and The LOX honed their craft.

A Glimpse of DMX Before the Spotlight

Long before platinum albums and sold-out tours, DMX was already commanding attention on Yonkers corners and school yards.
Performing as Divine Master Unknown, the young MC embodied the gritty energy and authenticity that would later define his career.

In the newly released video, his freestyle is raw and unfiltered — no studio polish, just pure emotion and rhythm. The footage serves as both a historical artifact and a powerful reminder of hip-hop’s grassroots beginnings in the Bronx–Yonkers corridor.

“You can see the hunger in his eyes — this was before the fame, before Ruff Ryders. This was the essence of hip-hop,” said Sauce Dorsey during the interview.

Yonkers 1st Lady and Sauce Dorsey Revisit the Birthplace

In the second half of the video, Yonkers 1st Lady joins Sauce Dorsey to discuss the impact of School 12, an institution that quietly shaped generations of Yonkers talent.
The duo reflects on how local open mics, hallway battles, and after-school cyphers gave birth to the city’s most iconic names — including DMX, Jadakiss, Styles P, and Sheek Louch.

They describe Yonkers in the late ’80s and early ’90s as a vibrant but tough community where creativity was a survival tool.

The Rise of The LOX and Yonkers’ Hip-Hop Identity

While DMX’s raspy intensity and spiritual conflict would set him apart, The LOX carried Yonkers’ voice into the mainstream with precision and pride.
Both acts, emerging from the same neighborhoods and local showcases, would eventually join forces under the Ruff Ryders banner — putting Yonkers on the global hip-hop map.

The interview delves into how that ecosystem of friendly competition and shared struggle created an environment where storytelling and lyrical dexterity thrived.
From the street corners to mixtape circuits, Yonkers’ young MCs turned pain into poetry.

Preserving Yonkers’ Legacy

For Sauce Dorsey and Yonkers 1st Lady, this release is about more than nostalgia — it’s about preserving culture. They stress the importance of documenting the real history before it’s rewritten or forgotten.

The newly released footage and conversation form part of a larger effort to archive Yonkers’ untold hip-hop legacy, giving younger audiences a glimpse into the roots of one of rap’s most influential regions.

Conclusion

The 1980s DMX freestyle as Divine Master Unknown, paired with insights from Yonkers 1st Lady and Sauce Dorsey, captures a moment before fame changed everything. It’s a window into the hunger, unity, and creativity that shaped not just one artist — but an entire city’s identity in hip-hop.

As Yonkers continues to produce talent that defines New York rap, this rare footage reminds us where it all began: a kid with a mic, a dream, and something real to say.