Rapper Heavy D, who performed at the BET Hip Hop Awards in Atlanta last month, died in Los Angeles on Tuesday after collapsing and being taken to a hospital. He was 44 years old.
According to TMZ, a 911 call was placed from near the rapper’s Beverly Hills home around 11:25 a.m. to report an unconscious man on a walkway.
Heavy D, whose real name is Dwight Arrington Myers, was transported to nearby Cedars-Sinai Medical and pronounced dead in the emergency room a short time later.
Witnesses said he was conscious and talking to paramedics before being taken to the hospital, where he died around 90 minutes later. The Los Angeles County coroner’s office will be handling the investigation into the cause of death.
Authorities said the rapper may have died of complications related to pneumonia, according to The Los Angeles Times.
In a post Tuesday, Billboard wrote Heavy D "was influential to the hip-hop world. [He] effortlessly infused reggae -- inspired by his hometown of Jamaica -- with R&B and pop."
Heavy D & the Boyz reached the height of its popularity in the late 1980s and early 1990s. In addition to Heavy D, the group included DJ Eddie F, Trouble T-Roy, and G-Wiz, all high school friends.
With their debut album "Living Large" in 1987, the group was the first one signed to Uptown Records. Their singles "Mr. Big Stuff" and "The Overweight Lover's in the House" became hits, as did "Don't You Know" on the R&B charts.
They followed with the album Big Tyme in 1989, and in 1991 the hit single "Now That We Found Love" made its album "Peaceful Journey" another platinum seller. In 1994, the group's Nuttin' but Love album produced such hits as "Black Coffee" and "Got Me Waiting."
The group’s Top 5 Billboard hits were “Got Me Waiting,” which reached No. 3 in 1994; “Now That We Found Love,” which reached No. 5 in 1991; “Somebody For Me,” which hit No. 8 in 1989; “We Got Our Own Thang," which hit No. 10 in 1989; and “Gyrlz, They Love Me" which reached No. 12 in 1990.
Heavy D also performed the introduction to television's hit show "In Living Color," and he rapped on Michael Jackson's hit single "Jam" among other collaborations.
His last album was "Love Opus," which was released in September.
At the BET Hip Hop Awards at the Atlanta Civic Center in October, Heavy D performed a medley of the group's classics, including “Is It Good To You” and “The Overweight Lover.” It was his first live performance before such a crowd in 15 years.
"I'm so glad that we got to work together for his performance at last month's BET Hip-Hop Awards," said Stephen Hill, BET's president of music programming and specials, told the Associated Press. "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."
Also in October, Heavy D performed at a Michael Jackson tribute concert in Wales.
In addition to being a rapper and singer, he was also a songwriter and actor. He appeared with Martin Lawrence and Eddie Murphy in the comedy movie "Life" in 1999 and on Fox TV's "Boston Public" high school drama in 2000. He also appeared in Eddie Murphy and Ben Stiller’s new film, “Tower Heist.”
Heavy D’s second to last post on his Twitter account was his reaction to Monday's death of heavyweight boxing champion Joe Frazier: “SMOKIN JOE FRAZIER..RIP.. truly one of the best heavyweight champs that ever lived.. GODS SPEED,MR FRAZIER!”
His last Twitter post, early Tuesday morning, was “BE INSPIRED!”
Entertainers also took to Twitter as word of Heavy D’s death spread:
“May GOD embrace the soul of Heavy D and Bless his family. I respected you Heavy and I always will,” posted rapper LL Cool J.
“I am deeply saddened by the sudden loss of Heavy D. A long time friend and a beautiful person,” music industry mogul Russell Simmons posted.
Singer Keyshia Cole posted, "When I met Heavy D.. He said ‘believe U have a good soul, Sing with always having Something to say'."
"Man. I was just with Heavy D recently in London. Had I known it'd be the last time I'd see him, I woulda told him he was truly great. RIP...", posted singer Ne-Yo.
Tweeted singer Nicki Minaj,"We'll never forget you babe!"
