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Rap Legend Heavy D, Dead At 44
By
Jen Carlson
Published Nov 8, 2011
Modified Nov 8, 2011
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By
Jen Carlson
Published Nov 8, 2011
Modified Nov 8, 2011
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Influential '90s rapper Heavy D, born Dwight Arrington Myers in Jamaica (and raised in Mount Vernon, NY), has died at the age of 44 years old. According to TMZ, a 911 call was placed from his home in Beverly Hills at 11:25 a.m., he was rushed to the hospital in Los Angeles around noon, and pronounced dead around 1 p.m. Pacific time. The site reports that the 911 call was to "report an unconscious male on the walkway," but he was "conscious and speaking" when paramedics arrived. Cops are investigating the death, though there are no obvious signs of foul play. His last Tweet was from just 16 hours ago, and read: "Be Inspired!"
Heavy D came on to the scene around 1987, when he and the Boyz signed to Uptown Records. Their fame later grew when they did the In Living Color theme song—in fact, check out this clip below of a live performance on the show. In it, you'll not only see Heavy D, but Rosie Perez, Jennifer Lopez, Puff Daddy, Tupac, and Flava Flav—before many of them broke out.
And of course, we all know this one:
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Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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