Sean Paul, Mr. Vegas React To DMX’s Death At Age 50
Dancehall stars Sean Paul, Mr. Vegas, Shaggy, Beenie Man, and Mavado are among scores of fans, celebrities, and music world personalities reacting to the death of American rapper DMX.
DMX, whose real name is Earl Simmons, had been in a critical condition in a New York hospital after suffering a heart attack on April 2. The legendary rapper, who had issues with substance abuse, died at age 50 today according to a statement from his family.
The family said, “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.”
Sean Paul and Mr. Vegas collaborated with X on Top Shotter (also known as Here Comes The Boom) for the classic Hype Williams-directed movie Belly in 1998. DMX’s gritty bars paired well with Vegas and Sean’s deejaying for one of the best Hip-Hop/Dancehall crossover collabs ever.
Sean Paul, in an Instagram post today, said “R.I.P big g. Tnx u 4 all u have given us. Condolences 2 ur fam frenz an fanz. U are missed. @dmx”
Mr. Vegas followed with an Instagram photo of the star and wrote in the caption, “We all have our struggles! They see the glory, but they don’t know the story. Walk in peace great one!!!!! #herecomestheboom #dmx”
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Shaggy, Mavado and Beenie Man were also among those paying tribute to the rapper.
“My Brother, this one is hefty, but we are going to stay strong. Blessings for the impact, the hard work, the friendship, and GREAT MUSIC. Rest up @dmx,” Beenie Man said in an Instagram post.
Shaggy offered, “R.I.P. to the G.O.A.T. @dmx Rest well my brother!! Condolences to the family!” while Mavado said, “RIP to a real dog.🙏🏿”
In the year 2000, the rapper visited Jamaica for Supreme Promotions’ famous Sting event and reportedly had such a great time that he stayed in hills two weeks longer than his scheduled three days, along with half a million dollars’ worth of jewellery that was burrowed from a Fifth Avenue designer.
“Everything was returned when he got back to the US,” Writer and music industry expert Dave Rodney related to the Jamaica Gleaner, now being able to laugh at the memory.
DMX is also famous for once saying: “Reggae lost me; music is music. I respect it as an art form, I respect the people who do it as being talented artistes, I just don’t like the music,” after he felt snubbed by Sean Paul for a remix of Gimme The Light.
The song was instead released with Busta Rhymes, two weeks after DMX’s request was ignored. X said he refused to work with Sean on other projects that followed because of how the situation played out. Sean explained his side last year, saying he didn’t even know DMX had beef with him.
DMX made his rap debut in 1998 and is a three-time Grammy-nominated artist. His first studio album, It’s Dark and Hell is Hot, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 Chart with several hits including Ruff Ryders’ Anthem, Get At Me Dog, and Stop Being Greedy. It’s Dark And Hell Is Hot was followed by three more albums over the following three years, marking the peak of the artist’s career.
At the time of his death, he was working on his first album in nine years, which was rumored to feature Lil Wayne, Snoop Dogg, Alicia Keys, Usher, Bono from U2 and more, according to Stereogum.