Famous Rapper DMX dead at age 50
Earl Simmons, better known as the rapper DMX, died Friday, April 9, 2021, at White Plains Hospital in New York. He had been on life support for the past few days following a heart attack on April 2nd.
His family, in a statement released after his passing, 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."
DMX was born Earl Simmons in Mount Vernon, New York, on December 18, 1970.
With his signature raspy voice, DMX, aka Dark Man X, delivered his lines with desperate aggression that propelled his career. His debut album, It's Dark and Hell Is Hot, achieved multiplatinum-level sales and was followed up with a string of chart-topping albums that included songs such as "Party Up (Up In Here)." His rise in music also gave way to acting in movies such as Belly, Romeo Must Die, and Cradle 2 the Grave.
He was also a famous actor, appearing in films such as ‘Cradle to the Grave’, ‘Romeo Must Die 2’, and ‘Exit Wounds’.
In a 2019 interview with GQ Magazine, he talked about being so overwhelmed after shows that he would need a private moment of his own to pray. "I just take a minute for myself and just, I thank Him, I praise Him. And I'm like, 'Thank you, thank you.' I'm like, 'Who am I to deserve this?' We all bleed the same blood." DMX believed faithfully in God and demonstrated this after every show with a prayer.
He told the podcast People's Party With Talib Kweli that as a child he suffered from asthma that would keep him awake at night. In his 2003 autobiography, E.A.R.L: The Autobiography of DMX, he wrote that he lived in a Children’s Home after being abused and neglected by his young mother. He stated that he was tricked by a mentor at the age of 14 into smoking crack and has struggled with drug addiction ever since.
Artists, athletes, and other celebrities paid tribute to him on social media Friday.
Liz Myke
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