By Sunday Iduh
Popular American rapper, Earl Simmons also known as DMX has died, his family announced in a statement. He was 50 according to reports.
“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,” family’s statement read in part.
“Earl was a warrior who fought till the very end,” the family continued. “He loved his family with all of his heart and we cherish the times we spent with him,” the statement said.
The rapper had been hospitalised since last week when he suffered a heart attack at his home in New York, United States of America, according to his longtime attorney, Murray Richman.
The rapper, songwriter, and actor was born 28 December, 1970 in Mount Vernon, New York. He began rapping in the early 1990s and released his debut album “It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot” in 1998, to both critical acclaim and commercial success, selling 251,000 copies within its first week of release. He released his best-selling album, “… And Then There Was X”, in 1999, which included the hit single “Party Up (Up in Here)”. His 2003 singles, “Where the Hood At?” and “X Gon’ Give It to Ya” were also some of his most popular.
DMX was featured in movies such as Belly, Romeo Must Die, Exit Wounds, Cradle 2 the Grave and Last Hour. In 2006, he starred in the reality television series DMX: Soul of a Man, which was primarily aired on the BET cable television network. In 2003, he published a book of his memoirs entitled, E.A.R.L.: The Autobiography of DMX.
