Nas, Eve and Swizz Beats paid tribute to DMX at his memorial service yesterday over the weekend. The “A Celebration of Life” event was held at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center. DMX – real name was Earl Simmons – died on April 9 aged 50 after suffering a heart attack that left him on life support.
Nas called DMX his “brother,” adding: “It’s an honor to be here tonight, at the same time it’s a sad day, it’s a glorious day.” Eve said: “To have known DMX the way that I knew him, as a man, a father, a friend… this is so hard, y’all. What I pray, what I hope, I pray to God, I pray to our angels, I pray to our ancestors that his journey was smooth. I know that he will rest in power, rest in love, but most of all he will rest in peace.” Producer Swizz Beats said: “Words can’t describe our loss, but our gain is heavy as well because we got a real serious person upstairs that’s looking down on us, and that’s going to guide us through our journey.” Swizz added: “I just wish all these people showed up for him when he was here. You got thousands of people claiming who they are and tickets and things like that. This man needed everybody. He didn’t need everybody when he’s not here, he needed everybody when he was here. We have to learn to celebrate each other while we’re here.” DMX’s family, including his fiancée Desiree Lindstrom, his children and other family members spoke on stage. Desiree said: “Everything he did, he did for you all.He always wanted to please you, he always wanted to give you his best show… He changed your l ives, one lyric at a time.”
Ahead of the service, DMX’s red casket was driven to the Barclays Center on top of a Ruff Ryders monster truck that read “Long Live DMX” on the side. Simmons’ private funeral was held in New York on Sunday.
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