Rick Ross Mourns DMX, Says His Death "Should Motivate Us"

BY Erika Marie 3.0K Views
Link Copied to Clipboard!
Cindy Ord / Staff / Getty Images
Rick Ross, DMX, PEOPLE, Addiction, RIP
Rozay spoke about collaborating with the late rapper & recalled X's "funny side."

If there is someone who knows about health scares due to drug abuse, it's Rick Ross. In 2018, the Florida rapper was rushed to the hospital after he was reportedly found unresponsive in his home. In his memoir Hurricanes, Rozay detailed an experience where he had a seizure and defecated on himself. In 2019, Ross revealed that his abuse of codeine and "things I was drinking, the other drugs I was doing, and on top of not resting" caused him serious issues. Rozay has since changed his lifestyle and shed weight.

After recently being hit with the devastating, unexpected loss of DMX, Ross reflected on his time with the rapper and expressed empathy for X days after his formal send-off.

Carmen Mandato / Stringer / Getty Images

“Me having family members that suffer with addiction, I understood the struggle that he was up against,” Ross told PEOPLE. “So it’s something that was really painful. Of course, I didn’t expect this. And it just hurt. So if anything else, it should motivate us. Let’s do what Dark Man X would have wanted us to do. Let’s turn up. Let’s go to the next level.”

In 2019, Ross worked with X and Swizz Beatz on "Just in Case," a single from the soundtrack to the Epix series Godfather of Harlem. Ross recalled being on set with DMX while filming the music video for the track. "I got to see the funny side of him, we got to laugh at a few jokes," Ross added. "I saw him really focused and turned up. And hearing about his addiction many years ago, being in the industry, it's something that's been in my heart the most."

Rest in Peace to Earl Simmons. Watch the music video for "Just in Case" below.

[via]


About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming a Features Editor, highlighting long-form content and interviews with some of Hip Hop’s biggest stars. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, Amy Luciani, and Omerettà—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.