DMX, the GRAMMY-nominated rapper, actor, author, and hip-hop icon has died, days after he was hospitalized following a heart attack, triggered by an apparent drug overdose. He was 50.
Born Earl Simmons, DMX (an abbreviation of Dark Man X) was a king of hardcore hip-hop and rose to fame along with his group, the Ruff Ryders. His debut album, It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot was both critically acclaimed and a commercial success, and his first five albums all debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.
“We are deeply saddened to announce today that our loved one, DMX, birth name of Earl Simmons, passed away at 50-years-old at White Plains Hospital with his family by his side after being placed on life support for the past few days," the family shared in a statement.
"Earl was a warrior who fought till the very end. He loved his family with all of his heart and we cherish the times we spent with him. Earl’s music inspired countless fans across the world and his iconic legacy will live on forever. We appreciate all of the love and support during this incredibly difficult time. Please respect our privacy as we grieve the loss of our brother, father, uncle and the man the world knew as DMX. We will share information about his memorial service once details are finalized."
X was very transparent about his journey with substance abuse and overcoming it throughout the years. In a tearful interview, he recalled the first time he became addicted to drugs.
At 14 years old, unbeknownst to him, he smoked a blunt laced with crack— provided by someone he admired who was in their 30s. X choked up at the memory, saying, “Why would you do that to a child?” He continued, “A monster was born. I wouldn’t do that to my worst enemy. I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy, especially to someone that you supposedly love.”
Simmons last entered rehab in October 2019 to honor his "commitment to putting [his] family and sobriety first," after his release from prison for tax evasion. Prior to his death, X was working on a new album and recently appeared on VERZUZ alongside, Snoop Dogg.
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