Rapper DMX remains in the ICU following a heart attack over the weekend and several of his children have rushed to his sickbed.

The 50-year-old, whose real name is Earl Simmons, is on life-support and TMZ reported on Monday that some of his 15 children are visiting him in the hospital for what is thought to be ‘a final goodbye.’

Later on Monday, a prayer vigil will be held by family, friends and fans outside the hospital where DMX is receiving care in White Plains, New York.

Later on Monday, a prayer vigil will be held by family, friends and fans outside the hospital where DMX is receiving care in White Plains, New York

The rapper’s condition remains critical and ‘dire’, according to TMZ. This prompted an undetermined number of DMX’s children to head to White Plains to say their goodbyes.

The outlet added that COVID-19 safety restrictions are complicating the matter with sources saying that only one person will be allowed to visit DMX at a time.

DMX has been holding on to life for the last several days after allegedly overdosing and subsequently having a heart attack.

‘On 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,’ the family said through a publicist. ‘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.’

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 overdosed on drugs and was not sure what caused the heart attack.

‘He had a heart attack. He´s quite ill,’ Richman said. ‘I’m very sad about it, extremely sad. He’s like my son.

‘He’s just a tremendous person, tremendous entertainer, tremendous human being. And so much to offer, so much to say. Not the run-of-the-mill rapper. A person of great depth.’

Doctors at White Plains Hospital in New York have said the rapper’s prognosis is poor while family members have said his life hangs in the balance.

DMX was said to be off life support earlier Saturday but his lawyer later said that the news was a ‘misstatement’.

Sources told TMZ that the star overdosed around 11pm on Friday and was rushed to the hospital where he is in critical care.

One relative explained that paramedics tried to resuscitate him for 30 minutes when he was taken to hospital on Friday night, during which time he was deprived of oxygen for an extended period.

Doctors say the lack of oxygen severely affected his brain, with one family member saying ‘It’s not looking good.’

Although he has been described as having ‘some brain activity,’ doctors are still worried that he may not pull through.

‘Last night Earl ‘DMX’ Simmons was rushed to the hospital after collapsing at home. At this time he remains in ICU in critical condition. Earl has been a warrior his entire life. This situation represents yet another road he must conquer.’ a statement by the family read.

‘The Simmons Family appreciates the overwhelming outpouring of heartfelt love, encouragement, support and prayers for Earl. Earl is someone whose life and music have been a source of inspiration and strength to so many people around the world. It is reassuring to see his fans return that same passion and energy to him during his time of need.’

Kelly Rowland was among an array of celebrities offering prayers for DMX this weekend. ‘Lord God in Heaven, bless our brother DMX,’ said Kelly, 40, in an emotional video on her Insta Stories this Saturday, ‘I ask that you would bless his family.’

She added: ‘I ask that you would wrap them with love and support right now. Lord God I ask that you would please cover and keep our brother DMX right now in his bed, Lord God, and ask that you would have mercy on his life.’

Kelly declared that ‘we just hold him up to you and ask that you shine your purest white light on him and all he loves. We thank you for his life, we thank you for allowing us to witness his gift and ask that this is not the end of the road. Lord God, we thank you, in Jesus’ name, amen.’

‘Please pray, send healing energy, whatever positive vibes you can for #DMX,’ tweeted Gabrielle Union during the day on Saturday.

Singer-songwriter Maxwell tweeted: ‘DMX the world is praying,’ while Ja Rule posted a string of praying hands emoji and wrote: ‘Prayers up for my brother DMX…’

Viola Davis, SZA and Missy Elliott were also among the famous names sending their prayers for the hospitalized music star.

‘DMX was the first artist i was in an actual studio with,’ tweeted Machine Gun Kelly who collaborated with him on the 2012 song I Don’t Dance.

Machine Gun Kelly wrote: ‘those nights helped shape me into who i am put healing energy out there for X he’s the last of a dying breed.’

‘DMX prayed over me once and I could feel his anointing. I’m praying for his full recovery,’ wrote Chance The Rapper.

DMX made a splash in rap music in 1998 with his first studio album ‘It´s Dark and Hell is Hot,’ which debuted No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. The multiplatinum selling album was anchored by several hits including ‘Ruff Ryders´ Anthem,’ ‘Get At Me Dog’ and ‘Stop Being Greedy.’

The rapper had four other chart-topping albums including ‘…And Then There Was X,’ ‘Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood,’ ‘The Great Depression’ and ‘Grand Champ.’ 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 ‘Belly’ and appeared in ‘Romeo Must Die’ a couple years later with Jet Li and the late singer Aaliyah. DMX and Aaliyah teamed up for the film´s soundtrack song ‘Come Back in One Piece.’

The rapper also starred in ‘Exit Wounds’ with Steven Seagal and ‘Cradle 2 the Grave’ with Li.

DMX has had a number of brushes with law involving drugs and other crimes over the years.

In January 2019, he was released from a West Virginia federal prison after serving a year behind bars for tax fraud.

He pleaded guilty in November 2017 to evading $1.7million in US tax payments between 2002 and 2005. On top of jail time, the Internal Revenue Service ordered him to pay $2.3million in restitution.

Prosecutors said the star had dodged taxes by living on cash, without maintaining a bank account or filing required tax returns to the IRS.

The native of Yonkers, a suburb of New York, was ordered to be under supervised release for three years.

DMX was said to have been preparing for a comeback during his first year as a free man and had signed a new record deal with Def Jam Records in September that year.

But the following month, just 10 months after his release, the star took to social media to announce he was checking into rehab for an unspecified amount of time.

‘In his ongoing commitment to putting family and sobriety first, DMX has checked himself into a rehab facility. He apologizes for his cancelled shows and thanks his fans for their continued support,’ the post read.

It is unclear how long DMX was in treatment, but by late December he was seen back on stage in Las Vegas where he performed at the Hakkasan Nightclub.

The rapper appeared to be in good spirits and addressed his troubles during the show with a rousing address between songs.

‘When you fall down, get back up, everybody here has been through some s**t and you never know what God is willing to do for you until you need him to do something for you,’ he said to the crowd.

‘You won’t know if he’s willing to pick you up unless you fall down. You won’t know if he’s willing to help you find your way, unless you get lost,’ he added.

DMX, whose deep, gravelly voice and dark, often violent lyrics catapulted him to fame in the early nineties, has a colorful criminal history.

The father of 15 has been arrested for a variety of offenses over the years including drug possession, reckless driving, animal cruelty and failing to pay child support.

Artistically he is best known for his 2000 smash hit ‘Party Up (Up In Here),’ in which he belittles other rappers.

Source: Dailymail