A prayer vigil is planned for outside the suburban New York hospital where rapper DMX remains on life support following a heart attack.
The family of the rapper said in an email on Sunday that the vigil will be held outside White Plains Hospital at 5pm on Monday.
"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."
Simmons' 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, 50, overdosed on drugs and was not sure what caused the heart attack.
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 multi-platinum 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.
The rapper also starred in Exit Wounds with Steven Seagal and Cradle 2 The Grave with Li.
Over the years, DMX has battled with substance abuse. The rapper cancelled a series of shows to check himself into a rehabilitation facility in 2019.
In an Instagram post, his team said he apologised for the cancelled shows and thanked his fans for the continued support.
Australian Associated Press
