DMX, also known as Earl Simmons (Mika Photography)

DMX, also known as Earl Simmons, is in a “vegetative state” after a massive heart attack on Friday – the result of a suspected overdose.

DMX was rushed to a White Plains, NY hospital on the Friday after the heart attack. Several reports pointed to a drug overdose as the cause of the medical emergency. At this point, the 50-year-old DMX – also known as Earl Simmons – is in critical condition and, according to his ex-manager, is struggling through a “vegetative state”.

Development follows a number of drug-related problems for the rapper. Simmons struggled with addiction for years and tried multiple stays in rehab. At this point, reports of massive overdose have not yet been confirmed. Whatever the cause, the tragic situation has attracted waves of support from across hip-hop and the music industry, including Ja Rule, Chance the Rapper, Missy Elliott, and Rick Ross, all of whom are publicly showing their support. Fans are also expressing their grief, and a prayer vigil is scheduled for Monday (April 5) in White Plains. More words of support are expected in the coming days.

For Simmons, the medical emergency is the last in a series of chaotic episodes and problems. DMX saw immense sales success from the late 90s with a number of multi-platinum albums, top albums and massive hits. But Simmon’s life was constantly mired in drama, legal troubles, and addiction-related issues, with seemingly endless violations of the law – including recurring battles for unpaid child support.

In total, DMX is said to have fathered a total of 15 children with several mothers over several decades. The rapper has tried to avoid paying millions in child support and support-related legal costs, with unpaid balances routinely hovering in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. In addition, DMX has also been involved in several IRS-related issues and recently served a one-year prison sentence for tax evasion.

Unfortunately, these themes were central to Simmon’s life instead of his music. Since its career peak in the late 90s / early 2000s, DMX has also struggled to stay relevant in the modern rap industry. Several recent releases have gone relatively unnoticed, despite DMX appearing in a high-profile Verzuz fight against Snoop Dogg in July 2020. This drew in more than 500,000 viewers, part of a wider arc of success for the rap battle platform and a strong signal that DMX’s popularity remains strong and lasting.