Rap legend Heavy D dies at 44
Posted November 8, 2011 11:16 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Rap legend Heavy D, the self-proclaimed “overweight lover” died on Tuesday after collapsing outside his Los Angeles home following a shopping trip, the Associated Press reports.
He was rushed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center but couldn’t be revived. He was 44.
Police say there is no reason to suspect foul play.
The Jamaican-born artist, whose real name was Dwight Arrington Myers, grew up in New York and rose to fame in the late 80s and early 90s.
He was known for his easy-going, positive lyrics, in stark contrast to the gangsta rap genre spawned by acts like NWA and Ice T.
He most recently performed at the 2011 BET Hip Hop Awards, and at a tribute concert for Michael Jackson in Cardiff, Wales.
Despite his moniker, he lost considerable weight over the years, shedding up to 135 pounds.
With files from the Associated Press
