WHITE PLAINS, NY (AP) – Supporters and the family of the DMX rapper chanted their names and prayed outside the New York hospital on Monday, where he remained on life support.
The 50-year-old was hospitalized on Friday, following a heart attack.
The crowd outside White Plains Hospital shouted “DMX! DMX! ”And when prompted by the keynote speaker, they folded their arms in an X-shape. A woman’s sighs reverberated as the audience heard a recording of the rapper, whose birth name is Earl Simmons.
Simmons’ longtime lawyer, Murray Richman, said on Sunday that the rapper had been admitted to the intensive care unit, but he was not sure what caused the heart attack.
DMX made its rap debut in 1998 and released seven albums in a career that included three Grammy nominations. He also starred in several movies.
But substance abuse has been a struggle for him over the years, including in 2019, when he canceled shows to go to a rehabilitation unit.
However, he kept his position among the fans. Last year, an online showdown with fellow rapper Snoop Dogg as part of the Verzuz series drew more than 500,000 viewers.