Ruff Ryder legend DMX passed away on Friday (April 9), causing a cascade of tribute posts to erupt on social media. From Public Enemy and Ice Cube to Missy Elliott and fellow Ruff Ryder Eve, the Hip Hop community flooded the timeline with sorrow.
But one particular tribute for DMX sparked concern. On Friday night, DJ Self posted a video of former Bad Boy Records affiliate Black Rob in a hospital bed looking gaunt and devoid of energy, worrying his fans.
“Pain is crazy, man,” he says in the clip. “It’s helping me out though. It’s making me realize I gotta lot to go on. I gotta lot to go on, man.” When someone off camera asks what he feels about DMX, he replies, “I feel for everything about X. X, one love, man. Big love to X, man. That’s all, man.”
DJ Self added in the caption, “Let keep our prayers up Black Rob !!! Get well man Please people out there take care of yourself BR was one of the greats Had NY on his back like Whoa!”
Black Rob is perhaps best known for his 2000 single “Whoa,” which peaked at No. 43 on the Billboard Hot 100, narrowly missing the Top 40. The now 52-year-old rapper suffered a mild stroke around 2015, likely from high blood pressure.
During a 2015 interview with Sway In The Morning, Black Rob talked about how the stroke affected his lifestyle choices.
“It ain’t no drugs. Lately, I had high blood pressure,” Rob explained at the time. “Being that I have that, that takes a lot out of a brother. Going on tour, you don’t even know. This is a real serious… I had a stroke. Yea, I had a stroke… and ummm, I got over that. “It’s been high blood pressure and trying to stay on top of this thing.
DMX Has Died At 50 Following A Week In White Plains Hospital ICU
“Being on top, it’s hard. I got over it. After [the stroke], I was in the wind. I came out of it. It’s hard, but I can do it. I had to change my health regimen and how I eat,” he said at the time. “That’s it. I’m exercising and trying to keep it up. I don’t drink no more. That right there was telling me that I had to stop. Every time I come out, I drink. I just got tired of it. Now, I’m back. I’m working against that and trying to be the best thing I can be. It’s hard.”
As of publication time, there’s been no update on Black Rob’s medical condition. However, former Hot 97 Musical Director Karlie Hustle tweeted what a lot of people were thinking and suggested lack of health insurance in the music business is a major problem.
“The Black Rob hospital video is distressing, but I believe it’s important to normalize seeing sick people out in the open,” she wrote. “Sick people are people. The human experience is fragile. We should not disappear our ill brethren because we find discomfort in our own mortality.
“Sending healing energy to Black Rob. He has historically struggled with high blood pressure and has had a stroke in the past. He told Sway some years back that he was taking 10 pills a day to keep the condition under control. Of course he had no health insurance bc music biz. Smh.”
Check out the tweets below.
Man this is not a good look but I definitely hope black rob pulls through. Kids, please see for yourself that the fast life catches up with you. Eat healthy, drink plenty of water, get sleep. You’re not immortal.
Will Puffy come to the rescue? “Crickets..crickets..”
Get well Black Rob! God be with you! and Rest In Paradise DMX! There’s too much pain these days..when will we see better times?!
Puff owes him nothing. But he should help this guy for no other reason except just being a good human and he obviously can if he wanted to. It would change the narrative about him.
You’re f****** Diddy, Aren’t you?
Another Bad Boy Records Casualty. Stay away from Diddy.
“Yeah, Take That , Take That!”
Get well SOON, Black Rob!!!
Who’s the dusty ass looking homeless guy doe?
You is so stupid it’s yo dusty ass just talk stupid shit when people sick frow the Fuck up.
You must be referring to your trans mom.
Ya dead granny
Tha fuck is going on now?
Another Diddy R**e victim is on their last leg.
How long did it take for ur anus to recover Buddy? They let ur father out too early…fuckin justice system man
Oh hello, you must be one of Diddy’s Butt Slaves. Surprised he lets you have access to the internet. How are you even typing…oh wait you’re using your dick since he’s got you handcuffed still. Guess you have to defend your master somehow or they’ll take him away and it’s back to being a random gay n**** from the block again.
Homeless guy in the hospital like Whoa!
When you’re sick you don’t give a fuck bout how you look coz you’re battling. Fuck U bro. Hope you have strength when you’re bed ridden and sick as hell
Tell me about it bro, people spewing this heinous rubbish really are dire need of personal development. Need some therapy for sure, you have to be seriously unhappy inside and at conflict with one self to even conjure up such thoughts. Petty and pathetic to the highest order, all that negativity aside I wish a full and speedy recovery to Black Rob! Dude was always nice on the mic!
Bless u bruh and those alike
This guy the best part of him ran down his mom,s leg when she stood up when she conceved him smh you said it rite I wish BLK Rob a fast and quick recovery one love RipX
Sedated, Then Diddy creeps up behind, and starts poking like Whoa!!!
Two pussys making lame attempts to be funnY like Wh0A!! Keep dat same energy when its u or ur piSSy loved ones in his sh0es like Wh0a!!!
Bad boy curse
?
Every Artist that has ever been signed to Bad Boy Records usually either ends up broke, in jail, on drugs, or dead..if not all of those.
Not “Every artist”, we still got LOX
Heavy drinker. Watch his interviews. Wish him the best though
Diddy calling out corporate America to pay black businesses and help them out. He needs to take care of his artists and people he was in business with. Really sad
Great lyricist. Get well soon bro
The Black Rob Report is one of the most underrated albums of all time. Hope the brother can pull through…
Diddy doesn’t need to help anyone out. This guys was a heavy alcohol and drug user. He made money, spent his money, then went to jail. He was an adult. No one should’ve bailed him out. Just like no one should bail us out. If this guy was this broke, he got Medicaid. Which in New York, covers most medication. Including, his blood pressure meds. He is a grown ass man, he should’ve taken care of himself. PERIOD.