Earl Simmons, the rapper known as DMX, was on life support on Sunday afternoon and was in a “vegetative state,” said his manager. Simmons’ longtime lawyer said he was hospitalized after a heart attack.
“We are just praying,” said the manager, Nakia Walker, adding that some of Simmons’ relatives were allowed to see Simmons at the hospital.
Murray Richman, a lawyer who has represented Simmons for 25 years, said Simmons was hospitalized after suffering an attack at his home in White Plains, NY, on Friday.
“He’s really an amazing person,” said Richman. “He entered a room, he lit up the room. He couldn’t help but make you feel good in his presence. “
Richman acknowledged that Simmons, 50, lived a “difficult life”, adding that he shared it with the world through his music.
“He expressed the pain and suffering in a unique way,” said Richman. “It really is a reflection of an entire segment of our society whose pain and suffering is not recorded.”
On a interview with PIX11 News on Saturday, Richman said he was concerned about Simmons.
“It would be hypocritical of me to suggest that I am not a concerned man on this particular point,” Richman told the station.
Mr. Simmons sold millions of records and was the first musician whose first four albums debuted at number one on the Billboard chart. He was known for electrifying the public in shows with successes that included “Party Up”, from 1999, and “X Gon ‘Give It to Ya”, from 2003.
Mr. Simmons has been arrested several times over the years for fraud, assault, driving under the influence of drugs and without a license and possession of a gun and narcotics. He served time in prison after pleading guilty in 2008 to animal cruelty, drug possession and theft.
Born in Mount Vernon, NY, on December 18, 1970, Mr. Simmons is the only child of Arnett Simmons and Joe Barker. He grew up in Yonkers, a city in the north of the Bronx.
Several artists visited Twitter over the weekend to offer prayers and support to Mr. Simmons, including Missy Elliott and Marshall Mathers, the rapper known as Eminem.
“Pulling 4 u, please stay strong !!” Mr. Mathers said on twitter.
Chancellor Bennett, the artist known as Chance the Rapper, recalled that Simmons once prayed for him.
“I could feel your anointing,” Mr. Bennett said on Twitter. “I am praying for your full recovery.”