DMX, the raspy-voiced hip-hop artist who produced the songs Ruff Ryders’ Anthem and Party Up (Up in Here) and who rapped with a trademark delivery that was often paired with growls, barks and ‘What!’ as an ad-lib, has died, according to a statement from his family. He was 50 years old. The Grammy-nominated performer died after suffering ‘catastrophic cardiac arrest’, according to the hospital in White Plains, New York, where he died. He was rushed there from his home on 2 April. The rapper, whose real name is Earl Simmons, had struggled with drug addiction since his teenage years. His lawyer, Murray Richman, had earlier said he could not confirm reports that DMX overdosed
