The troubled MC Earl Simmons–known professionally as DMX–missed an Arizona court date on Tuesday because he had been admitted to a hospital in Miami, according to his court-appointed public defender Charles Kozelka, and a warrant was issued for his arrest over the missed appearance. It’s the latest in this year’s long string of troubles for DMX, who has accrued a dossier this year that includes the repossession of a New York townhouse because of his failure to endorse clothing for dogs properly, as well as arrests for drug-related crimes, animal cruelty, and identity theft, which he attempted when he tried to skip out on a hospital bill in Arizona back in May.

“We provided intake documentation, and the judge said it was insufficient,” Kozelka said. “The judge said he should have informed the court sooner, and because it was the second time he’d missed court in this case, she issued the warrant.”

Kozelka would not say why DMX was hospitalized, nor would he comment on reports that the MC was in a rehabilitation facility. He said that X’s team is “working towards getting him some help, and we hope that will be taken seriously by all parties in this case,” including the court and DMX himself, who is “serious” about getting help with his substance abuse issues. The Yonkers, New York-bred rapper has a home in Arizona, but Kozelka said he also frequently spends time in Miami, where X was arrested twice in June, for driving without a valid driver’s license and attempting to buy cocaine and marijuana from undercover police. The rapper was legally allowed to be out of state, but was required to show up for court.

One hopes that he’s learned enough from the whole identity-theft kerfuffle to not send someone else to act in his stead at the hospital, but dude’s year has been just bad enough for me to think it’s a possibility.

DMX Hospitalized In Miami, Still Issued Arrest Warrant For Missing Arizona Court Date [MTV]