Rapper DMX was sentenced Wednesday to a year in prison for evading $1.7 million in taxes.

The sentence in Manhattan federal court came after the judge agreed to listen to the track “Slippin’,” one of DMX’s biggest hits, which defense attorneys said showed a man who knew what it was to come back after bottoming out.

DMX, a.k.a. Earl Simmons, wept while his attorney described his childhood.

“In the court’s view, Mr. Simmons is a good man, but very far from a perfect man,” U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff said, according to Newsday.

DMX has been behind bars since January, when his bail was revoked for repeatedly violating drug treatment terms. Prosecutors had asked for 57 to 60 months behind bars.

Defense attorney Murray Richman had asked that DMX get probation so that he could provide for his 15 children and pay back the nearly $2 million in taxes owed. (Los Angeles Times)

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