American rapper and actor Earl Simmons, known by his stage name DMX or Dark Man X, died on Friday, several US media reported citing relatives of the rapper.
The 50-year-old suffered a heart attack a week ago and has since been hospitalized in New York.
"
We are deeply saddened to announce today that our beloved DMX, birth name Earl Simmons, has passed away at the age of 50 at White Plains Hospital with his family by his side after being put on respiratory assistance in recent days,
”explained his relatives.
Read also: The DMX rapper hospitalized: fans rally around the hospital
Author of eight albums, the last in 2015, DMX is one of hip-hop's darkest figures, exposing his inner demons in hymns that have earned him both commercial and critical acclaim.
Her first big single,
Get At Me Dog,
starring Def Jam, was released in 1998, taken from her debut studio album,
It's Dark and Hell Is Hot
.
The album rose to No. 1 on Billboard's charts, with a second hit,
Ruff Ryders' Anthem
, marking the start of a commercial success that would last for several years.
DMX has had, throughout its career, often in conflict with the law, with charges of possession of narcotics, cruelty to animals, dangerous driving, non-payment of support, or even posing as a federal agent.
In November 2017, he pleaded guilty to tax evasion, admitting to having avoided paying $ 1.7 million in taxes.
He was sentenced to one year in prison and returned some $ 2.3 million.
