It has been confirmed by multiple credible sources that rapper DMX, whose real name was Earl Simmons, has died at the age of 50. This was the culmination of a week-long stay in ICU at a New York Hospital following a cardiac arrest that was believed to have stemmed from a drug overdose.
In his music, DMX has been very open about the traumas he experienced during childhood and his unabated drug addiction struggles. Last year, the Lord Give Me a Sign rapper also opened up about unwillingly smoking crack when he was 14-years-old after his former mentor passed it to him without disclosing what he had laced it with.
Along with music mogul Jay Z, DMx and Ja Rule were in the short-lived New York hip hop group known as Murder Inc. The group was formed by producer Irv Gotti and enjoyed modest success.
More details to follow.