Prayer vigil held in Yonkers for rap star DMX as he fights for his life

People gathered Thursday in the Yonkers neighborhood where DMX grew up, praying for the rap star as he fights for his life.

News 12 Staff

Apr 8, 2021, 10:21 AM

Updated 1,338 days ago

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People gathered Thursday in the Yonkers neighborhood where DMX grew up, praying for the rap star as he fights for his life.
The prayer vigil was held at Building 80 on School Street Thursday night as he remains on life support at White Plains Hospital.
A memorial for DMX was set up across the street from the hospital where fans also stopped to pay their respects.
Hundreds of people which included family members, old friends and supporters showed up at the vigil outside his childhood Yonkers' home, where they played his music and prayed for a miracle. His cousin Talia Simmons called him a "legend" and said the crowd prayed to "encourage" him to pull through this ordeal.
Family members said despite the outlook, they'll remain optimistic that DMX can pull through this medical crisis like he has so many times before.
Six days after suffering a heart attack in his home, the Grammy-nominated rapper, whose real name is Earl Simmons, remains in a coma and on life support. Doctors have performed brain function tests.
His lawyer won't confirm whether the heart attack was drug-related or from natural causes.
Managers for the 50-year-old DMX said the brain functioning tests could be critical in determining the rapper's outcome and that his family who has been at the hospital will determine what's best going forward. His lawyer said his mom, fiancé and son have been allowed to visit him in the hospital.
It is unclear if he has made any improvements.
In the meantime, tributes and support for the artist have been front and center as vigils have been held.
Fans said DMX is a celebrity who remembers his roots. He grew up in poverty in Yonkers and has had his struggles over the years, but he's also given back to his community by feeding local families on Thanksgiving and donating money to the Nepperhan Community Center where he spent time as a youth. "I'm talking about people who are from the streets, the gutter, the hood, the projects, the inner city, whatever you want to call it—he shows love," said fan Rick Ramey.