DMX remains on life support, his manager Steve Rifkind has confirmed. The rapper was hospitalized last week after suffering a heart attack and on Thursday rumors emerged that he had died. Taking to Instagram, Rifkind dismissed the speculation.
"Everybody, please stop with posting these rumors," he said in a video Thursday night. "DMX is still alive. Yes, he is on life support, but please, it’s not helping anybody by having them see these false rumors. Let the family relax for a night."
DMX, whose real name is Earl Simmons, was in "grave condition" when he was rushed to a hospital in White Plains, N.Y., on April 2 after going into cardiac arrest. Reports at the time claimed he had suffered an alleged overdose. Sources later told TMZ that he was in a "vegetative state." On Thursday the outlet then reported that he showed no improvement in brain activity.
"We ask that you please keep Earl/DMX and us in your thoughts, wishes, and prayers as well as respect our privacy as we face these challenges," his family said in a statement.
DMX has been open about his struggles with addictions over the years. In a 2020 interview with Talib Kweli on his "People's Party" show, he revealed that his drug abuse began when he was 14 years old. His mentor at the time gave him a joint that was laced with crack, which he was unaware of.
"He passed the blunt around and ... I hit the blunt," he explained. "I never felt like this before it f---ed me up. I later found out that he laced the blunt with crack ... Why would you do that to a child? He was like 30 and he knew I looked up to him. Why would you do that to someone who looks up to you?"
DMX entered treatment for substance abuse on several occasions. In 2016, he was found unconscious in a hotel parking lot in Yonkers, New York, after a drug overdose, according to Addiction Center. The following year he canceled his upcoming concerts to return to rehab.
Speaking with Kweli, he admitted the addiction was related to deeper issues.
"I learned that I had to deal with the things that hurt me ... I didn’t really have anybody to talk to ... in the hood, nobody wants to hear that," he said. "Talking about your problems is viewed as a sign of weakness when actually it’s one of the bravest things you can do. One of the bravest things you can do is put it on the table, chop it up, and just let it out."
DMX added that it was impossible to know when the past can catch up with you.
"You never know when the things you stored away are going to come out and just fall all over the place ..." he said. "Let me open this door and start dealing with this shit right now before it comes out at the wrong time and I just have a meltdown ... that’s what’s helped with addiction and sobriety.”
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Zoe Papadakis ✉
Zoe Papadakis is a Newsmax writer based in South Africa with two decades of experience specializing in media and entertainment. She has been in the news industry as a reporter, writer and editor for newspapers, magazine and websites.
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