US rapper and actor DMX is in serious condition in hospital following a heart attack.
The hip-hop icon, whose real name is Earl Simmons, was taken to hospital in White Plains, New York late on Friday evening according to his lawyer Murray Richman.
In a statement, Richman confirmed the 50-year-old rapper is surrounded by his family saying: "He was on life support.
"He's been taken off of life support. He is breathing on his own but there is a little brain activity.
Prayers for DMX and his family🙏🏾💜 pic.twitter.com/NhKIx0aAyj
— Missy Elliott (@MissyElliott) April 3, 2021
"It would be disingenuous of me to suggest that I'm not a worried man at this particular point."
The lawyer refused to confirm a TMZ report which claimed the heart attack was the result of an overdose.
The Yonkers, New York-raised DMX was signed by Columbia Records in 1992 and has collaborated with Jay-Z, Ja Rule and LL Cool J as well as acting in films including Romeo Must Die and Cradle 2 the Grave.
He suffered bronchial asthma as a child and has admitted to previous health problems including being addicted to crack cocaine.
He was resuscitated and taken to hospital in February 2016 after being found unresponsive in a hotel parking lot in Yonkers, an incident he later said was due to an asthma attack.
DMX's fans and family are planning to hold a prayer vigil outside his New York hospital.
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