DMX, the energetic, passionate, award-nominated rapper and actor, has died a week after suffering a heart attack. He was 50.
Born Earl Simmons, X died at White Plains Hospital in New York on Friday, his family confirms by PEOPLE and CNN.
“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,” they wrote in a statement.
Despite all of his past public run-ins with the law, drugs and arrests plus welcoming his 15th child into the world last year, DMX had said he was destined to be a preacher.
DMX (which stand for “Dark Man X”), had turned to Dr. Phil to open up about his dark past and personal struggles. During the interview, he revealed that he suffers from bipolar disorder.
While it may sound bipolar to think that he can both a pastor and a rapper, DMX has shared that he wanted to do both.
“That’s where I can’t give you an answer-will I have more influence as a pastor or a rap artist?” DMX previously said in a radio interview. “But I do believe that God allowed my music career to create the platform to lay the foundation to gain the ear, to gain the credibility, so that way when I do become a pastor, I don’t think I’m going to lose fans, I think I’m going to gain more.”
And during the recent pandemic, X had been using his platform to start preaching.
DMX had taken to social media to share the good news of the Bible. The rapper took to Instagram Live during the middle of the pandemic and hosted a virtual Bible study. The only notice he gave was a very vague video announcement earlier that day where he said he had “something personal to share.” Many wondered if it was bad news since a lot of us only know the DMX whose very public battle with substance abuse, domestic disputes, dogfighting, and numerous run-ins with police were on display constantly in the news.
But during DMX’s Friday live session on Instagram, he