DMX | Cocaine-Induced Heart Attack

Substance abuse and addiction are so often symptoms of poverty, abuse, and trauma. 

And this was the case for Earl Simmons, better known as the rapper DMX (Dark Man X), who died in 2021 from a heart attack related to a drug overdose and other long-term health effects stemming from chronic drug misuse.

How DMX Died

On April 2, 2021, at the age of 50, DMX was rushed to White Plains Hospital in critical condition following cardiac arrest. 

With no heartbeat, the rapper had to be resuscitated but lost oxygen to his brain for up to thirty minutes. The next day, DMX’s manager shared that he was on life support in a vegetative state.

A week later, on April 9, 2021, his liver, kidneys, and lungs failed, and he was pronounced dead shortly after. 

According to the Westchester County Medical Examiner’s Office, the official cause of death was a cocaine-induced heart attack.

According to DMX’s family, “Earl was a warrior who fought till the very end.”

About DMX

Born in New England on December 18, 1970, Earl Simmons was raised with his older and younger sisters by his mother in the School Street Projects in Yonkers, New York. 

It was a difficult childhood, marked by severe uncontrolled asthma, abuse, poverty, homelessness, potential bipolar disorder, and abandonment.

After being expelled from school, Simmons was eventually tricked by his mother into visiting a group home and at age 10 was left there, apart from his family, for 18 months. 

He would later be arrested for arson after attempting to burn the home down and by age 14 was living on the streets before being once again sent away.

Early Music Career

From an early age Simmons explored his emerging love and talent for hip-hop, beatboxing, and rapping. He also paired up with Ready Ron, a local rapper who once tricked him into smoking a joint laced with crack cocaine.

Simmons took on the performance name DMX and began writing his own music and performing at a local recreation center for young children. 

At age 18, while serving prison time for carjacking, he spent copious amounts of time on music which he recorded, burned to CD, and sold on street corners in New York.

In 1991, The Source magazine praised DMX in its Unsigned Hype column, and later that year he signed to Ruffhouse Records, publishing his debut single “Born Loser” and other songs. 

In 1995, he would make a guest appearance alongside Jay-Z and Ja Rule on Mic Geronimo’s debut album, followed by an appearance on the LOX’s single “Money, Power & Respect”, and LL Cool J’s single “4, 3, 2, 1”.

Major Albums

DMX’s first major-label album, It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot, was released by Def Jam Recordings in 1998 and features the singles “Get at Me Dog” and “Ruff Ryder’s Anthem.” 

The album was joined by two more #1 Billboard 200 albums, Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood, and And Then There Was X, later that year and in late 1999, respectively. 

The latter album also featured the single “Party Up (Up in Here)” which reached the top ten on R&B charts and was nominated for a Grammy Award.

This was followed by similarly successful albums including The Great Depression in 2001, Grand Champ in 2003, Year of the Dog, Again in 2006, and compilation albums. 

The soundtrack for Romeo Must Die also featured a duet with DMX and Aaliyah in 2000, while Cradle 2 the Grave, a 2003 soundtrack, featured his perennial hit “X Gon’ Give It to Ya”.

His seventh album, Undisputed, would eventually be released 2012, featuring production from Swizz Beatz and J.R. Rotem with a guest appearance by MGK. Redemption of the Beast was next released without authorization in 2015, leading to legal drama.

DMX’s final, posthumous studio album Exodus was released in 2021 and featured collaboration with Alicia Keys, Bono, Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, Snoop, The LOX, Usher, Moneybagg Yo, Griselda, and Kanye West.

History Of Legal Issues, Substance Abuse, & Rehab

Even while releasing new album after new album, DMX was plagued with legal issues. 

He was jailed 30 times for crimes ranging from petty robbery to assault, carjacking, animal cruelty, driving illegally, drug possession, probation violation, failure to pay child support, pretending to be a federal agent, and tax fraud.

Substance Abuse

Exposed to alcohol from childhood and crack cocaine from age fourteen, DMX struggled with substance abuse and drug addiction throughout his adult life.

Rehab

DMX canceled concerts in order to enroll in inpatient rehabilitation in 2002, 2017, and 2019. He also received emergency naloxone (Narcan) treatment for suspected opioid overdose in 2016.

Recovery Is Possible

Unfortunately, cocaine, opioids, and other drugs are deeply harmful to the mind and the body. However, recovery is possible with the help of inpatient and outpatient treatment programs, care from loved ones, and ongoing support from local resources.

For information on how we help families and individuals overcome addiction, please contact us today.