DMX Was Tricked Into Smoking Crack Cocaine by a Former Mentor at 14 Years Old

On April 3, TMZ reported that rapper DMX suffered a heart attack and was admitted to a hospital in White Plains, N.Y., as a result of an apparent drug overdose. DMX (real name: Earl Simmons) died a few days later, on April 9, 2021. 

DMX's family released a statement, writing, "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."

"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." 

However, fans are still trying to process exactly what happened to the Ruff Ryders rapper. 

Reports do not reveal what drug DMX overdosed with, but the rapper previously admitted that while he's experimented with several drugs, crack cocaine was his drug of choice. In a previous interview with Talib Kweli, the “Party Up” rapper revealed that his addiction started at an early age.

Although he never dabbled in drugs and alcohol in his early years, at only 14 years old, a former mentor tricked the rapper into smoking crack for the first time. He explained, “This guy, this guy, this guy … he introduced me to the best part of my life which would be the rap but …”

Tearfully the rapper explained, “He passed the blunt around, and … I hit the blunt. I never felt like this before. It f--ked me up. I later found out that he laced the blunt with crack … 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?”

Although DMX would later escape the trauma of his childhood and become a Grammy-nominated entertainer, his addiction followed him throughout his life. 

He added, “I learned that I had to deal with the things that hurt me. I didn’t really have anybody to talk to … in the hood, nobody wants to hear that. … Talking about your problems is viewed as a sign of weakness when actually it’s one of the bravest things you can do. One of the bravest things you can do is put it on the table, chop it up, and just let it out.”

DMX also reportedly struggled with opiate addiction. In 2016, DMX overdosed in a Westchester, N.Y. parking lot, where a medic administered Narcan — a drug that counters the effects of opioid overdose, — and ultimately saved the rapper’s life. Although his attorney, Murray Richman, suggested that the rapper had an asthma attack, DMX later canceled his tour and checked himself into a rehab facility.

Despite his struggles with addiction in the past, before his recent hospitalization, fans assumed that he was doing much better. 

Last year, DMX announced that he was checking himself back into rehab after serving time in prison for tax evasion, which seemed to be a sign that he was consistently seeking help. 

Our thoughts are with DMX's family and friends during this difficult time.