American rapper, songwriter, and actor DMX, has died, according to a statement from his family. He was 50.
The Grammy-nominated hip-hop artist who produced such hit songs as "Ruff Ryders' Anthem" and "Party Up (Up in Here)" passed away after suffering “catastrophic cardiac arrest,” according to the hospital in White Plains, New York, where he was rushed to on April 2.
A rep for his family told TMZ, "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. Earl was a warrior who fought till the very end."
The statement continues, "He loved his family with all of his heart and we cherish the times we spent with him. Earl’s music inspired countless fans across the world and his iconic legacy will live on forever. We appreciate all of the love and support during this incredibly difficult time. Please respect our privacy as we grieve the loss of our brother, father, uncle and the man the world knew as DMX. We will share information about his memorial service once details are finalized.”
DMX was featured in films such as Belly, Romeo Must Die, Exit Wounds, Cradle 2 the Grave, and Last Hour. In 2006, he starred in the reality television series DMX: Soul of a Man, which was primarily aired on the BET cable television network. In 2003, he published a book of his memoirs entitled, E.A.R.L.: The Autobiography of DMX.
He is survived by his 15 children and mother.
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