<p>Earl Simmons, the rapper known as DMX, was on life support Sunday afternoon and was in a “vegetative state,” said his former manager, who said she has been in contact with his family. Simmons’ longtime lawyer said he had been hospitalized after a heart attack.</p>.<p>“We’re just praying,” the ex-manager, Nakia Walker, said, adding that some of Simmons’ relatives had been allowed to see him in the hospital.</p>.<p>Murray Richman, a lawyer who has represented Simmons for 25 years, said Simmons was hospitalized after he had a heart attack at his home in White Plains, New York, on Friday.</p>.<p>“He is truly an amazing person,” Richman said. “He walked into a room, he lit up the room. He couldn’t help making you feel good in his presence.”</p>.<p>Richman acknowledged that Simmons, 50, had lived a “difficult life,” adding that he shared it with the world through his music.</p>.<p>“He expressed the pain and suffering in a very unique way,” Richman said. “He truly is reflective of a whole segment of our society whose pain and suffering go unrecorded.”</p>.<p>Simmons sold millions of records and was the first musician whose first four albums debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard chart. He became known for electrifying audiences at concerts with hits that include “Party Up” (1999) and “X Gon’ Give It to Ya” (2003).</p>.<p>Simmons was arrested repeatedly over the years, for fraud, assault, driving under the influence and without a license, and weapon and narcotics possession. He served time in jail after pleading guilty in 2008 to animal cruelty, drug possession and theft.</p>.<p>Born in Mount Vernon, New York, on Dec. 18, 1970, Simmons is the only child of Arnett Simmons and Joe Barker. He grew up in Yonkers, a city just north of the Bronx.</p>.<p>Several performers took to Twitter over the weekend to offer prayers and support for Simmons, including Missy Elliott and Marshall Mathers, the rapper known as Eminem.</p>.<p>“Pullin 4 u please stay strong!!” Mathers said on Twitter.</p>.<p>Chancelor Bennett, the performer known as Chance the Rapper, recalled that Simmons once prayed over him.</p>.<p>“I could feel his anointing,” Bennett said on Twitter. “I’m praying for his full recovery.”</p>
<p>Earl Simmons, the rapper known as DMX, was on life support Sunday afternoon and was in a “vegetative state,” said his former manager, who said she has been in contact with his family. Simmons’ longtime lawyer said he had been hospitalized after a heart attack.</p>.<p>“We’re just praying,” the ex-manager, Nakia Walker, said, adding that some of Simmons’ relatives had been allowed to see him in the hospital.</p>.<p>Murray Richman, a lawyer who has represented Simmons for 25 years, said Simmons was hospitalized after he had a heart attack at his home in White Plains, New York, on Friday.</p>.<p>“He is truly an amazing person,” Richman said. “He walked into a room, he lit up the room. He couldn’t help making you feel good in his presence.”</p>.<p>Richman acknowledged that Simmons, 50, had lived a “difficult life,” adding that he shared it with the world through his music.</p>.<p>“He expressed the pain and suffering in a very unique way,” Richman said. “He truly is reflective of a whole segment of our society whose pain and suffering go unrecorded.”</p>.<p>Simmons sold millions of records and was the first musician whose first four albums debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard chart. He became known for electrifying audiences at concerts with hits that include “Party Up” (1999) and “X Gon’ Give It to Ya” (2003).</p>.<p>Simmons was arrested repeatedly over the years, for fraud, assault, driving under the influence and without a license, and weapon and narcotics possession. He served time in jail after pleading guilty in 2008 to animal cruelty, drug possession and theft.</p>.<p>Born in Mount Vernon, New York, on Dec. 18, 1970, Simmons is the only child of Arnett Simmons and Joe Barker. He grew up in Yonkers, a city just north of the Bronx.</p>.<p>Several performers took to Twitter over the weekend to offer prayers and support for Simmons, including Missy Elliott and Marshall Mathers, the rapper known as Eminem.</p>.<p>“Pullin 4 u please stay strong!!” Mathers said on Twitter.</p>.<p>Chancelor Bennett, the performer known as Chance the Rapper, recalled that Simmons once prayed over him.</p>.<p>“I could feel his anointing,” Bennett said on Twitter. “I’m praying for his full recovery.”</p>