“We are deeply saddened to announce today that our beloved, DMX, birth name Earl Simmons, has passed away at White Plains Hospital at the age of 50 with his family by his side after being placed on life support for the past few days.,” the family statement was partially read.
DMX (Dark Man X) started rapping in the early nineties and released his debut album “It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot” in 1998.
With the deaths of fellow rappers The Notorious BIG and Tupac Shakur before hitting the scene, DMX became one of the reigning stars of hardcore hip hop and was the main artist to sign with the Ruffhouse Records label.
His single, “Ruff Ryder’s Anthem,” helped seal his critical and commercial success.
The rapper has released several albums over the years, including one of his most commercially successful, “… And Then There Was X”, released in 1999 and nominated for a Grammy in the Best Rap Album category. It was one of three Grammy nominations for the rapper.
He sold millions of albums boosted by hits like “Get At Me Dog” in 1998, “Party Up” in 1999 and “X Gon ‘Give It to Ya” in 2003.
He turned his growing fame into an acting career, appearing in multiple films, including “Romeo Must Die” and “Cradle 2 The Grave.”
That same year, he spoke to GQ about his struggles.