Despite some unfortunate medical and legal issues, rap veteran DMX remains optimistic—at least for the time being.

The federal government is coming after DMX, real name Earl Simmons, for tax evasion, and if convicted, he faces up to 44 years in prison. After his latest bout in court, the rapper shed some light on the situation to Page Six, spitting a short freestyle praising his trial lawyer, Murray Richman, after being told by a journalist to "do your song." "We don’t worry with Murray, he get you outta jail in a hurry/When the government trying to bury you, you good—early!" DMX busted for the camera below.

The U.S. Attorney's Office claims the “X Gon’ Give It to Ya” lyricist has been dodging the government's tax system for years, and now reportedly owes them up to $1.7 million. During a recent court hearing, DMX was charged with 14 counts of tax evasion after the feds gave several instances where he attempted to hide his money. According to them, Simmons made over $1 million between the years of 2011 and 2013, but claimed to have only made $10,000 one year and put "unknown" for the remaining two. After spending the night in jail last week, DMX pleaded not guilty on all charges.

Hopefully X's legal woes won't interfere with the impending Ruff Ryders 20th Anniversary Reunion tour. The 10-date event is set to kick off Sept. 7 at the Bayfront Park Amphitheater in Miami, Fla. and is scheduled to have X, Eve, Swizz Beatz, The Lox, Drag-On and Fat Joe appear to perform their classic hits.

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