UPDATE:
RoyalTee Magazine is sad to report the passing of legendary rapper and actor DMX at the age of 50. The rapper whose real name was Earl Simmons passed away on Friday, April 9 after suffering from a heart attack last week. However his attorney in a separate statement to the Associated Press that he was unsure if the heart attack was the official cause of death.
According to PEOPLE, his family confirmed his death on Friday morning at White Plains Hospital in New York.
“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 wrote in a statement to PEOPLE.
“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.”
On April, 2, DMX reportedly suffered an alleged drug overdose, according to TMZ. The incident alleged incident triggered a heart attack and put the rapper in a “vegetative state” with “little brain activity.”
On Friday morning (April 9), his family says his organs started to fail. The hospital, White Plains, released a statement and said X “passed away peacefully with family present after suffering a catastrophic cardiac arrest.”
DMX was battling substance abuse for years and had checked himself into rehab in 2019. One of his last major headliners was a July 2020 Verzuz against Snoop Dogg. The two were reportedly working on an album together.
His legacy
X rose to fame in the mid-1990s and was best known for his raspy voice and character growls, barks, and “What.” His albums It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot and Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood became instant classics but his best-known one was And Then There Was X. The 1999 album featured hits such as “What’s My Name?” and “What These Bitches Want” and was certified platinum six times. He also laid the vocals to soundtracks such as Shaft and the Godfather of Harlem TV series.
X was also an accomplished actor. His movie titles include Exit Wounds, Belly, Cradle 2 The Grave and Romeo Must Die, alongside the late singer, Aaliyah Haughton, who passed away in 2001. Despite his legal battles, from animal cruelty to drug possession, Simmons always strived to be the best version of himself.
Our condolences are with Simmons’ family and friends during this difficult time.
