DMX’s vulnerability on the mic made it easy for him to connect with his millions of fans. Coupled with his unmistakable gruff and impenetrable vocal power, X’s music provided a lifeline for countless people who often looked to the Ruff Ryders legend for strength.
But on Friday (April 9), Earl “DMX” Simmons lost his fight at White Plains Hospital where he’d been placed on life support following a catastrophic heart attack a week prior. Following the devastating results of a brain function test, the Simmons family was faced with the difficult decision to take him off the machines that were keeping him alive.
DMX Has Died At 50 Following A Week In White Plains Hospital ICU
“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,” the Simmons family wrote in a statement. “DMX 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.”
DMX has wrestled with substance abuse and mental health issues for most of his life and, as he suggested on the 1998 “Prayer (Skit)” from It’s Dark And Hell Is Hot, had an innate feeling his time on earth was limited.
“And I fear that what I saying, won’t be heard until I’m gone,” he said. “But it’s all good, ’cause I really didn’t expect to live long.”
There’s always been a sense DMX wasn’t afraid to die either. During a February 2021 interview with Drink Champs co-hosts N.O.R.E. and DJ EFN, he said casually said, “If I was to drop dead right now, my last thought would be: ‘I’ve had a good life.’”
With over 74 million albums sold worldwide and a catalog boasting eight studio albums — including the multi-platinum Flesh Of My Flesh Blood Of My Blood — DMX is forever immortalized in music history. Naturally, the Hip Hop community is in a state of collective mourning as they remember their fallen brother. From Method Man and Xzibit to Busta Rhymes and his former Ruff Ryder labelmate Eve, the love is strong on social media.
As Eve wrote, “#mydog X I know that you are in the place of peace you deserve. I will be forever grateful to have known you. You were one of the most special people I have ever met. Full of Humour, talent, wisdom and love and most of all loyalty. This world has lost a REAL ONE but the heavens have gained an ANGEL. May you Rest.”
Check out some of the reactions below.
Jay-Z better not say shit
Because?
murder inc. group they had. ja rule jay-z dmx. i think they have only 1 song. they were supposed to make a group but dmx and jay-z clashed heads.
That didn’t have anything to do with it. X was hotter than Jay then if anything. Even Jay has admitted this. Super groups never happen with successful people because they’re busy. X was dropping albums every year, doing movies, etc. Jay was dropping albums and putting his label on. Ja was probably the only person with an abundance of time back then.
“When I die please don’t tweet about my death (death) / Tryna get mentions, bringin’ attention to yourself / Please don’t post some pic from in the club / With some quote you stole like we was tighter than what we was / Tryna get likes from my love / If you can’t go by the crib then give my momma a hug” – Jay-Z on Flux Capacitator
Wack. Has Jay-z ever had a good verse?
Despite whatever the falling put Jay has a right to mourn the man. They came up together. If DMX hadn’t left Jay hanging with that MTV Awards performance maybe the rift wouldn’t have happened. Regardless it’s a sad day
Dam man, RIP the dawg. Never be another like him ever.
The only rapper to sound good on a wack swizz beat beat.
Swizz’s beats aren’t whack. Stop it. They were tailor made for x
Fashawn put it best. Hip hop stars were like superheroes when we were young. Now, to be older and see them dying and shit is a reality check. So many of these brothers aren’t making it to far past 50, and that’s hard to reconcile with those dudes on top of the world when they were young and doing their thing. Like I’ll always have X in my mind when he first got mainstream love when his debut album dropped and then he dropped two albums like six months apart, and they both were dope as fuck, not just capitalizing on the moment.
DMX thank you for your greatness fuck all the hate before and after death. You are appreciated and welcomed anywhere you are and where your spirit may be
Not gonna lie after posting this hours ago I am having issues with this….Life goes on but do we really? Are these the lessons we are taught by others demons? Earl/Dmx your darkness was hell and you brought it hot, now we cherish your flesh and will deal with the Great Depression
This some sad shit to have to read. There was plenty of times where I was slippin and fallin, and your music helped get me through. Rest In Peace to my brother I never met, but the brother that was always there.
Rip beautiful angel ???? you’re truly going to be missed I’m praying for you’re family and kids you’re truly an angel you got your wings love you always and forever
Y’all Remember that movie “Backstage” it was a documentary about “The Hard Knock Life Tour” with Jay-Z, DMX, Method Man & Redman, and each of Jay and X’s respective crews, I watched that movie probably 20 times on cable as a teen, one thing that stood out to me was That DMX was incredibly humble and down to earth, he was arguably as much of a giant in rap at that time than Jay-Z, but seemed not care about the spotlight, I will also never forget in one scene when he said his favorite rappers were Himself, Jay-Z and Scarface, so much respect for his peers, regardless of what people think about that so called beef. It’s dark and hell is hot is a top 5 rap album ever front to back, he changed so many peoples lives with that album and subsequent albums after that. R.I.P. DMX.
Jay put out Hard Knock Life in 98 which was huge and had been around before X but I would argue DMX was way hotter when Backstage came out. The man dropped two in 98 that were classics and was coming off …And Then There Was X in 99. I like Vol 3 but most thought it was a dud… Jay came back around after he dropped on September 11th as the greatest rapper of the time.
It always cracks me up thinking of X, busta, BIG and jay going to school together. I would have loved to be a fly on the lunch room wall. RIP X, you really gave the spark that ignited my love for hiphop.
Rest in peace. This dudes whole life was tragic and from all accounts he was the realest and most selfless person. I hope he finally has peace.
The cat the rat the hat the gat the bat the gnat the splat the dog the hog the pog the flog the jog the log how you going to see them when you’re lost grog
Fuck you
Naw fuck you bitch ass
If memory serves me right, when hip hop was at its most competitive and creative, this guys 1st couple of albums had the game in a vice grip.. He defntly had a moment in time that he owned and that can never b taken away. Legend in every sense of the word. RIP X
A message to other MC’s in the rap game…cherish love and life while u got it…fuck all the other BS. RIP X…1998 changed the game…WHAT !!!
RIP DMX. The family said the he had a heart attack after the Covid Vaccine, rather than the overdoses that the MSM claims
There is no proof that the covid 19 vaccine caused the heart attack
No one seems to be discussing how DMX received the v@ccine right before he ended up in the hospital
I’m running short of words,but all what I want to say is REST IN PEACE EARL SIMMONS… I’m going to miss you,you are really angel cuz you touches lives in different angle,I pray that God will forgive him his shortcomings and accept him in His kingdom
He lived the life he loved and he loved the life he lived. They say it was your demons its such a sad thing to hear you were our brother one of the best that God could ever give. He Blessed you with a life of Strength and Bravery that only a few man has ever lived.You feel No More Now Everything has Ceased! So you can Rest My Brother for now you can Rest In Peace.
thanks kyle eustice for a great wrightingt post article some great stuff videos and images of a fallen great hiphop rap musician dmx the industry won’t be the same ,had one of his hiphop rap cds and loved listening to some of songs and loved watching some of the movies he was inn ,what a shock this news was/is, appreciate