Nigeria, April 9 -- American rap icon, Earl Simmons, who is popularly known as DMX is dead.

He died on Friday, a week after he was hospitalised following a heart attack, ABC Chicago reports.

He was rushed to a hospital in White Plains, New York, a week ago where he was reported to be in critical condition following a heart attack at his home possibly resulting from an overdose.

A few days later, his former manager, Nakia Walker, stated he was in a "vegetative state" with "lung and brain failure and no current brain activity".

Confirming his death in a statement on Friday, his family said the rapper 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....