DMX Has Passed Away at 50

DMX’s family has released a new statement, saying on Friday that the 50-year-old artist has passed away.

See the full statement below:

A rep for White Plains Hospital in New York also shared a statement in which the medical staff extended their “deepest condolences” to DMX’s family and fans:

The sustaining impact of DMX’s artistry is impossible to overstate. In 2003, X—thanks to the opening week success of Grand Champ—became the then-only artist in the history of the Billboard 200 chart to hit No. 1 with his first five albums.

In an equally amazing feat, DMX’s first two albums—It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot and Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood—were released within the same year via Def Jam/Ruff Ryders and were both certified multi-platinum while also garnering widespread critical acclaim and fortifying a legion of fans who passionately followed him through every facet of his career.

“Def Jam Recordings and the extended Def Jam family of artists, executives and employees are deeply and profoundly saddened by the loss of our brother Earl ‘DMX’ Simmons,” Def Jam Recordings said in a statement on Friday. “DMX was a brilliant artist and an inspiration to millions around the world. His message of triumph over struggle, his search for the light out of darkness, his pursuit of truth and grace brought us closer to our own humanity. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and all those who loved him and were touched by him. DMX was nothing less than a giant. His legend will live on forever.”

In a separate statement to Complex, Lyor Cohen—current Global Head of Music at YouTube and former Def Jam president—remembered DMX as a “sensitive, thoughtful man” who kept him inspired during his time at Def Jam.

“Earl Simmons was a wonderful, caring father, and a sensitive, thoughtful man,” Cohen said via email. “Unfortunately, Dark Man X took over and ran amok, tormented and struggling to find the light…. DMX gave me the inspiration to keep going at Def Jam when rap became soft and silly.”

DMX’s faith, though always a central part of his lyrical story, became an even stronger force in the Yonkers-raised icon’s career in recent years. In 2019, Kanye West invited DMX to lead his Sunday Service group in a prayer featuring passages familiar to fans of the spoken word pieces found on classic X albums.

In the summer of 2020, DMX and Snoop Dogg went head-to-head for an installment of Swizz Beatz and Timbaland’s Verzuz, resulting in a hits and camaraderie-filled showdown that’s widely regarded as among the best of the series. And in February of this year, DMX revealed during a return appearance on Drink Champs that the new album he was working on at the time would feature collaborations with everyone from the late Pop Smoke to U2’s Bono.

Rest in power, DMX.