WHITE PLAINS, NY (AP) – Supporters and family of the rapper DMX chanted his name and sang prayers Monday outside the hospital in New York, where he continued life support.
The 50-year-old was admitted to hospital on Friday, after a heart attack.
The crowd outside White Plains Hospital shouted “DMX! DMX! and at the insistence of the keynote speaker, they crossed their arms in the shape of an X. A woman’s sobs echoed as those in attendance heard a recording of the rapper, whose birth name is Earl Simmons.
Simmons’ longtime attorney, Murray Richman, said on Sunday that the rapper had been admitted to intensive care but was unsure what caused the heart attack.
DMX made its rap debut in 1998, releasing seven albums in a career with three Grammy nominations. He also starred in several movies.
But drug abuse has been a struggle for him over the years, including in 2019 when he canceled shows to attend a rehab center.
Nevertheless, he kept his reputation among the fans. An online face-off last year with fellow rapper Snoop Dogg as part of the Verzuz series brought more than 500,000 viewers.