Jamerican Hip Hop Artist 'Heavy D' Dead at Age 44

 By Alicia Cruz
The Black Urban Times

A man with a heart of gold. An artist that left an indelible mark on other performers. That's how fellow music artists and actors described Hip Hop singer and producer Heavy D as word of his sudden death became public Wednesday.

The 44-year-old self-proclaimed "overweight lover,” born Dwight Arrington Myers, collapsed Tuesday morning in the vestibule of his Beverly Hills condominium. He was immediately transported to Cedar Sinai Medical Center where he later died. Investigators found nothing that indicated Myers death involved foul play, said Beverly Hills police Lt. Mark Rosen.

Beverly Hills police officers were dispatched to the artists condominium building on an "unconscious person” call. When the officers arrived, they found Myers conscious and communicative struggling to breath. Media reports say Myers had just returned home from shopping when he began experiencing respiratory trouble. Condominium personnel were assisting the singer to his apartment when he collapsed, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The Mandeville, Jamaica native exploded onto the rap scene with his group "Heavy D and the Boyz" during the late 80s with album, "Living Large." The New York based group signed with Uptown Records achieving Platinum status with album, "Big Tyme" in 1989. Often donning dark sunglasses during performances, the handsome, heavyset Myers was light on his feet. His dance steps and overall stage presence drove female fans wild with hits such as "Gyrlz, They Love Me" and "Somebody for Me."

Throughout his music career, the Ja-merican lyricst enjoyed the success of three platinum and two gold albums, including creating the theme song for television-hit program, "In Living Color." The Mount Vernon, New York born rapper achieved worldwide fame after performing the rap on Michael Jackson's hit single "Jam" as well as Janet Jackson's hit single "Alright".

Myers acting career took off with off-Broadway play,” Riff Raff," at Circle Repertory Company followed by guest appearances on NBC hit comedy shows, "A Different World," "Roc," and "Living Single." In 1995, Myers made his screen-acting debut in action-drama New Jersey Drive," which was filmed on location around the city of Newark.

He tweeted two words hours before he died “BE INSPIRED.” Fans and fellow artists swamped Twitter as they learned of his death:

Rev Run: R.I.P to one of the best rappers who ever Did it @HeavyD You will be missed .... Im so saddened by this that I cant stop cryin

Ice-T: "I feel sick... Everyone should stop for a second, take a breath and realize how lucky you are to be alive, then appreciate every second with your luv ones."

Actor-Comedian Tommy Davidson: "Most know Heavy D as a rap icon. I considered him a brother who made an indelible mark on me as a performer and a human being. I miss him already."

Rapper MC Hammer: "We had a lot of great times touring together. He had a heart of gold. He was a part of what's good about the world."

Myers last album, titled "Love Opus," was released in September 2011 on music label, Stride Entertainment. A month before his death, Myers made his first live performance in more than 10 years during the 2011 BET Hip Hop Awards.

"I'm so glad that we got to work together for his performance at last month's BET Hip-Hop Awards. Hev was focused, energetic and happy. He worked hard, as he always had, to excite the crowd. Our condolences go to his family and specifically his daughter who he doted on. He was a unique figure in hip-hop and will be missed,” said Stephen Hill, BET's president of music programming and specials on Myers Legacy.com obituary page.


LEAVE WORDS OF INSPIRATION AND LOVE ON HEAVY D'S OBITUARY PAGE