Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Grammy-nominated New York rapper and actor DMX passed away Friday after being in a coma for seven days, following a heart attack. He was 50.
DMX, born Earl Simmons, in Mount Vernon, New York, reportedly was admitted to a hospital in White Plains, New York, on April 2, after reportedly suffering “catastrophic cardiac arrest.”
The multi-platinum selling artist was on life support for several days and was said to be in a vegetative state.
DMX rose to Hip-Hop stardom with his rough raspy street voice style on songs like “Ruff Ryders’ Anthem” and “Party Up (Up in Here)”. DMX started in the music industry in 1984, when he would beatbox for a rapper named Ready Ron. His Hip-Hop career as a solo artist started in the early 1990’s.
In a statement released Friday DMX’s family said, “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 also honored DMX, who overcame childhood adversity, including: asthma problems, parental child abuse, and growing up in a couple of boy’s homes and a sting in prison.
The family said: “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.”
