Rapper DMX has been hospitalized and fellow music artists such as Missy Elliott and Rick Ross have taken to social media to pray for his recovery.
The musician's attorney, Murray Richman, tells E! News, "He had a heart attack last night at 11 p.m. and he's still currently in the hospital. His condition is very serious."
While Richman didn't disclose any other details, he explained the rapper was "taken off life support and is breathing on his own."
The 50-year-old "X Gon' Give It to Ya" artist was rushed to a hospital in White Plains, New York on Friday night, April 2, TMZ reported early on Saturday, April 3. The outlet quoted sources close to the rapper as saying he suffered a drug overdose that triggered a heart attack.
However, DMX's rep has not confirmed those details.
DMX, a father of 15 children and whose real name is Earl Simmons, has battled substance addiction on and off for years. He underwent treatment in rehab in 2017 and 2019.
Last November, he talked about his history of addiction to crack cocaine on the show People's Party with Talib Kweli. The rapper said that at age 14, his mentor, who was like an "older brother" to him, gave him a crack-laced blunt without telling him what he smoked. He said he had never even smoked cigarettes or weed before the incident.
"I never felt like this," he said, pausing for several seconds while getting emotional. "It just f--ked me up. I later found out that he laced the blunt with crack."
The rapper asked, "Why would you do that to a child? He was like 30...and he knew I looked up to him. Why would you do that to someone who looks up to you? I wouldn't do that to my worst enemy."
In 2011, DMX talked about his efforts to combat drug addiction in an interview with TMZ, saying, "Everyone was taking advantage of me with my finances, trying to put me in the direction to fail. I have 10 kids. I have to drive them in the right direction, so I let the cocaine go."
Following news of his hospitalization, fellow celebrities took to social media to voice support for DMX:
Rick Ross: The rapper wrote on his Instagram Story, "Prayers up for DMX the legend, let's put that in the sky."
Missy Elliott tweeted, "Prayers for DMX and his family," along with a photo of the fellow rapper and a prayer and a purple heart emoji.
MC Hammer tweeted, "Speak Life !!! Prayers for #DMX," along with a prayer emoji.
Juicy J tweeted, "Prayers up for DMX," along with a prayer emoji.
Comedian Tracy Morgan tweeted, "Prayers out for DMX, we're praying for you brother."
Actress Gabrielle Union tweeted, "Please pray, send healing energy, whatever positive vibes you can for #DMX," along with three prayer emojis and three black heart emojis.