DMX, the husky-voiced hip-hop artist who produced the songs “Ruff Ryders’ Anthem” and “Party Up (Up in Here)” and who rapped with a trademark delivery that was often combined with grunting, barking, and “Que!” He passed away today at age 50, according to a statement from his family. The Grammy-nominated artist died after suffering “catastrophic cardiac arrest,” according to the White Plains, New York hospital, where he died. He was rushed there from his home on April 2.
“We are deeply saddened to announce today that our loved one, DMX, whose birth name is Earl Simmons, passed away at age 50 at White Plains Hospital with his family by his side after being on life support for the past few days.. Earl was a warrior who fought to the end. He loved his family with all his heart and we appreciate the time we spent with him. Earl’s music inspired countless fans around the world, and his iconic legacy will live on forever. We appreciate all the love and support during this incredibly difficult time. Please respect our privacy as we mourn the loss of our brother, father, uncle, and the man the world knew as DMX. We will share information about their memorial service once the details are finalized, ”reads the communication from the family.
“White Plains Hospital extends its deepest condolences to Mr. Simmons’s family, as well as to his friends and legions of fans who expressed unwavering support during this difficult time. Earl Simmons passed away peacefully with the family present after suffering a catastrophic cardiac arrest, ”the hospital center reported.
The rapper, whose real name was Earl Simmons , had battled drug addiction since his teens. His attorney, Murray Richman, had previously said that he could not confirm the DMX overdose reports.
DMX caused a rap sensation in 1998 with their first studio album, “It’s Dark and Hell is Hot,” which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 album chart. The multi-platinum album was based on several hits , including “ Ruff Ryders ‘Anthem ”,“ Get At Me Dog ”,“ Stop Being Greedy ”and“ How It’s Goin’ Down ”.
DMX followed up with four consecutive albums topping the charts, including “… And Then There Was X,” “Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood,” “The Great Depression,” and “Grand Champ.” He released seven albums, earned three Grammy nominations, and was named Favorite Rap / Hip-Hop Artist at the 2000 American Music Awards.
DMX hit the rap scene around the same time as Jay-Z, Ja Rule and others who dominated the charts and emerged as platinum-selling acts. They were all part of rap teams too: DMX led the Ruff Ryders collective, which helped launch the careers of Grammy winners Eve and Swizz Beatz, and relaunched The Lox, previously signed to Bad Boy Records. Ruff Ryders was successful on the charts and on radio with his compilation albums “Ryde or Die.”Along with his music career, DMX paved his way as an actor . He starred in the 1998 film “Belly” and appeared in the 2000 “Romeo Must Die” with Jet Li and Aaliyah. DMX and Aaliyah teamed up for “Come Back in One Piece” on the film’s soundtrack.
The rapper would later open Aaliyah’s tribute music video, “Miss You,” alongside his other friends and collaborators, including Missy Elliott, Lil ‘Kim, and Queen Latifah, after Aaliyah’s death in 2001 in a plane crash. at 22 years old.
The rapper also starred in 2001’s “Exit Wounds” with Steven Seagal and 2003’s “Cradle 2 the Grave” with Li .
The rapper’s intense songs told stories of the “sins of the streets” of a complex character, according to a biography on allmusic.com, which described DMX as the “Johnny Cash of hip-hop.”
DMX also starred in more than 40 movies and television shows, including “Belly,” “Romeo Must Die,” and the action films “Cradle 2 the Grave” and “Exit Wounds,” for which he made the soundtrack.
In 2017, DMX pleaded guilty in federal court to failing to pay $ 1.7 million in taxes from 2000 to 2005 when transferring money between accounts belonging to representatives and partners. He was sentenced to one year in prison.
His previous arrests included charges of animal cruelty, reckless driving, possession of drugs, weapons, and probation violations. He was detained in Arizona and New York.
He had 15 children, according to media reports.
In the 1998 song “Slippin”, DMX said: “To live is to suffer, but to survive, well, that is to find meaning in suffering.”
Amelia Warner
Amelia Warner writes all the Latest Articles. She mostly covers Entertainment topics, but at times loves to write about movie reviews as well.
