A week after suffering a heart attack that left him hospitalized and on life support, DMX has passed away. The family of the man born Earl Simmons released a statement on Friday April 9, saying “We are deeply saddened to announce today that our loved one, DMX, birth name of Earl Simmons, passed away at 50 years old at White Plains Hospital with his family by his side after being placed on life support for the past few days.”

In the statement, the family also went on to say “Earl was a warrior who fought till the very end. He loved his family with all of his heart and we cherish the times we spent with him. Earl’s music inspired countless fans across the world and his iconic legacy will live on forever. We appreciate all of the love and support during this incredibly difficult time. Please respect our privacy as we grieve the loss of our brother, father, uncle and the man the world knew as DMX. We will share information about his memorial service once details are finalized.”

Over the course of the week, hundreds of friends, family and fans gathered at the White Plains Hospital where DMX was located to offer prayer and send positive energy. The atmosphere was part vigil and part celebration of the life and music of Dark Man X. In a separate statement, the White Plains Hospital wrote “White Plains Hospital extends its deepest condolences to the family of Mr. Simmons, as well as his friends and legions of fans who expressed their unwavering support during this difficult time. Earl Simmons passed away peacefully with family present after suffering a catastrophic cardiac arrest.”

DMX’s New Album Will Feature Griselda

To say this is a devastating loss for Hip-Hop would be a gross understatement. DMX has been a pivotal force in Hip-Hop since his record breaking debut in 1998, with his albums It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot and Flesh of my Flesh, Blood of My Blood, both of which reached #1 on the Billboard album charts and went multi-platinum, selling millions of copies. It was an auspicious start for a man who would become bigger than life over the next two decades. Just weeks before the tragic events of last week, he had been speaking glowingly about what to expect from his upcoming new album.

AFH will celebrate the life and legacy of DMX over the next several days, weeks, months and years. Until then, we offer our deepest condolences to Earl Simmons’ family, friends and legion of fans.