Following a week of prayers, heartfelt messages and positive vibrations, the hip-hop world was hit with reverence and heartbreak today (April 9th) as DMX the iconic New York rapper died after suffering a heart attack triggered by last week’s drug overdose.
According to his former manager, the hard-charging MC who built the rugged Ruff Ryders label into a rap powerhouse in the late 1990s had been in a “vegetative state” since Sunday (April 4th).
His family released the following statement:
“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. 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,” they said. “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.”
In remembrance of the fallen rap pioneer, those close to DMX released a short collection of his biggest hits including “party Up,” “Where The Hood At,” “X Gon’ Give It To Ya” and the closing track “Slippin’.”
Subsequent to a number of artists voicing their prior support in hopes that DMX would recover, several rap luminaries returned to social media with words of praise and sadness.
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Photo (Cropped): Mika Väisänen