WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. 鈥� A prayer vigil was planned for Monday outside the suburban New York hospital where rapper DMX remained on life support Sunday following a heart attack.
The family of the rapper said in an email Sunday that the vigil will be held outside White Plains Hospital at 5 p.m.
鈥淥n Friday night, April 2nd, 2021, our brother, son, father, and colleague DMX, birth name of Earl Simmons, was admitted to White Plains (NY) Hospital, facing serious health issues,鈥� the family said through a publicist. 鈥淲e 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.鈥�
Another statement released Sunday afternoon said the rapper remained in a coma and was on a ventilator.
Simmons' longtime lawyer, Murray Richman, said the rapper was admitted to the intensive care unit at White Plains Hospital after going into cardiac arrest. Richman said he could not confirm reports that DMX, 50, overdosed on drugs and was not sure what caused the heart attack.
DMX made a splash in rap music in 1998 with his first studio album 鈥淚t鈥檚 Dark and Hell is Hot,鈥� which debuted No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. The multiplatinum selling album was anchored by several hits including 鈥淩uff Ryders鈥� Anthem,鈥� 鈥淕et At Me Dog鈥� and 鈥淪top Being Greedy.鈥�
The rapper had four other chart-topping albums including 鈥�...And Then There Was X,鈥� 鈥淔lesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood,鈥� 鈥淭he Great Depression鈥� and 鈥淕rand Champ.鈥� He has released seven albums and earned three Grammy nominations.
Along with his music career, DMX paved his way as an actor. He starred in the 1998 film 鈥淏elly鈥� and appeared in 鈥淩omeo Must Die鈥� a couple years later with Jet Li and the late singer Aaliyah. DMX and Aaliyah teamed up for the film鈥檚 soundtrack song 鈥淐ome Back in One Piece.鈥�
The rapper also starred in 鈥淓xit Wounds鈥� with Steven Seagal and 鈥淐radle 2 the Grave鈥� with Li.
Over the years, DMX has battled with substance abuse. The rapper
Last year, DMX faced off against Snoop Dogg in a Verzuz battle, which drew more than 500,000 viewers.
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Associated Press writers Dave Collins reported from Hartford, Connecticut, and Jonathan Landrum Jr. reported from Los Angeles.
The Associated Press
