Steve Rifkind Called Out Uncle Ray Copeland Over DMX Funeral Claims, But Are “The Receipts” Next?

There is an previous city parable about writing checks…and cashing these checks…

Steve Rifkind and Uncle Ray Copeland are two males who have been near the late, nice DMX. They are actually in a quiet however rising public standoff. The pressure took off after Rifkind took to Instagram, calling Uncle Ray “a liar” following Copeland’s current AllHipHop interview the place he opened up about his nephew’s loss of life, his personal administration of DMX, and the expensive preparations surrounding the rapper’s funeral. He appeared real and legit, however Steve stepped up with robust phrases on IG.

Rifkind’s put up was blunt. He questioned why Uncle Ray was “coming forward” years later to speak about DMX’s remaining preparations. It’s a good query, nevertheless it’s additionally common for members of the family and longtime associates to lastly communicate their reality. In Uncle Ray’s case, although, issues hit otherwise. He wasn’t simply one other individual within the circle—he was blood. He was household, and he was additionally DMX’s supervisor throughout a few of the most pivotal years of his life and profession.

So why now? Why is Uncle Ray speaking in 2025 after years of silence? He claims he’s lastly prepared to talk on what actually occurred behind the scenes after DMX’s passing. According to him, he needed to arrange a fundraising effort to cowl the prices of DMX’s funeral—no small activity contemplating the entire got here to roughly $150,000.

This wasn’t your common sendoff. DMX’s farewell was huge, a larger-than-life memorial that matched his legendary presence in Hip-Hop. Kanye West reportedly coated the associated fee for the Barclays Center memorial—one thing even Uncle Ray acknowledged as an unimaginable gesture. “Even though Kanye gets on my last nerve,” he stated, “I have to say that is a great deed for him.”

But the stress rose when Uncle Ray claimed that Swizz Beatz, Ruff Ryders, and Def Jam didn’t initially assist cowl bills. Eventually, he stated, Def Jam contributed $35,000, and the remaining got here from personal donors.

Rifkind wasn’t having it. The longtime music govt (shout out to Loud Records) —who managed DMX in his remaining chapter—jumped on-line and flat-out known as Uncle Ray a liar. He additionally particularly stated that Swizz “kicked in 80% of the funeral expenses” and continues to assist DMX’s household. That assertion instantly created confusion, as a result of Uncle Ray by no means denied Swizz’s ongoing assist for the household. His feedback have been in regards to the logistics and timing of who stepped up financially throughout the funeral planning.

Now, sources inform AllHipHop that this dispute won’t finish quietly. “If he’s calling Uncle Ray a liar, it’s going to result in another level of truth telling,” one insider stated. And by “truth telling,” they imply receipts. The phrase is, Rifkind might not have any, whereas Uncle Ray reportedly has a lot.

Whether this blows over or escalates stays to be seen. But one factor is definite: Uncle Ray’s interview wasn’t some random seize for consideration. It was emotional, uncooked, and deeply private. He brazenly cried. I felt that. He misplaced a nephew, a famous person, and a good friend multi functional blow. And was left to assist orchestrate the farewell for one among Hip-Hop’s most iconic, tortured souls.

It’s straightforward to get misplaced within the back-and-forth, however on the heart of all of it is DMX—a person whose life, legacy, and influence deserve peace. The individuals round him clearly nonetheless care, even when the reality is tousled in grief and pleasure…

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