At the age of 50, iconic hip-hop artist Earl Simmons popularly known as DMX passed away on the 9th of April 2021 after being hospitalized for a week following a heart attack induced by a drug overdose. He collapsed at his home on the 2nd of April and was immediately rushed to the hospital. His family revealed to TMZ that before he was placed in the ICU, the paramedics had tried resuscitating him for 30 minutes and during that time, he was deprived of oxygen. He was in a coma as the lack of oxygen severely affected his brain.
DMX had a successful career that lasted over three decades. He began in the early 1990s and by 1998 had released his critically acclaimed debut album It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot. Throughout his career, DMX was vocal about his personal struggles with drugs and his mental health. He revealed that he got addicted to crack cocaine at 14 when he was tricked into smoking a marijuana cigarette laced with the drug. He publicly battled this addiction for 36 years, checking into rehab numerous times to help him.
Although his struggles were overwhelming, he never let it dissuade him from positively impacting lives through his music and through random acts of kindness. Before he passed, thousands of people took to their social media accounts to pray for his quick recovery. Unfortunately, on the 9th, his organs began to fail. He was pronounced dead later that day. Celebrities, friends and family, and fans worldwide have taken to social media to not only mourn but also celebrate his life as numerous people reveal the seemingly ordinary but impactful moments they had with him.
He was a cultural icon to not just the music industry but also to the black community.
