The music industry was shocked Tuesday to learn of the news that rapper Heavy D died suddenly at age 44.
Beverly Hills police officers were dispatched to the rapper’s home at about 11:25 a.m. to follow up on a report of an “unconscious person” laying on the walkway of a building. Heavy D., born Dwight Arrington Myers, was then transported to Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles by Beverly Hills Fire Department paramedics, according to a Beverly Hills Police Department statement.
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An investigation revealed that Heavy D. had returned from shopping and experienced difficulty breathing while walking into his building. Building personnel were helping him up to his condo when he collapsed.
He was pronounced dead at 1 p.m. at Cedars. Foul play is not suspected, and his death is believed to be medically related.
The rapper came to prominence in the 1990s as part of Heavy D & the Boyz, but he recently performed at the 2011 BET Awards, his first show in 15 years, as well as the Michael Jackson tribute concert in Wales on Oct. 8. His final album, released Sept. 27 via Stride Entertainment, was a digital-only release titled Love Opus.
Heavy D also was an actor, with roles in The Cider House Rules, The Tracy Morgan Show,Bones, Law & Order: SVU and, most recently, Brett Ratner‘s Tower Heist.
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Here are the late rapper’s five most memorable performances:
1. “Now That We Found Love”: Heavy D & the Boyz broke out with his 1991 own rendition of the O’Jays’ hit song from 1973. The song reached No. 5 on Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, helping the group go on to sell more than 3.5 million album throughout its career.
2. “Somebody for Me”: The 1989 song, from the group’s breakout album Big Tyme, reached No. 1 on the Billboard rap chart, helping “introduce Heavy D’s combination of featherweight rhymes and pop hooks to the mainstream,” according to Billboard.
3. “Got Me Waiting”: The song, from 1994’s Nuttin’ But Love, reached No. 3 on Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
4. “Jam”: Heavy D performed a rap during the bridge of Jackson’s song from his 1991 album Dangerous. The video co-starred Michael Jordan and was featured on the Chicago Bulls’ (Jordan’s team at the time) 1992 NBA championship video Untouchabulls.
5. In Living Color theme: Heavy D & the Boyz performed the theme song to Fox’s 1990-94 comedy sketch show, which helped launch the careers of host Keenen Ivory Wayans’ family as well as those of Jamie Foxx, David Alan Grier and Jim Carrey. Fox recently announced that Wayans is reviving the series with two half-specials to air in the spring.
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