Source: Adam Bielawski/WENN.com / WENN DMX, whose given name is Earl Simmons, died on April 9 after spending a week on life support. He was just 50, more than two decades short of his expected time on earth. Sometimes life is cruel that way.  But not even death could kill moralistic-infused conjectures about DMXâs past drug use and its potential role in his untimely demise. âDMX suffered a drug overdose⦠[and this] â¦triggered a heart attack,â TMZ reported before anyone else. Like hungry sharks in pursuit of prey, other media outlets pounced on the story, devoured it, and shared it without deviating. Reactions on social media varied from sympathetic responses like this one: âAddiction is a lifelong battleâ to just plain cruel ones like this: âIf you do drugs, then death is what you deserve.â