Heavy D Dead at 44

The rap world suffered a great loss today.

TMZ is reporting that Heavy D passed away today at 44 years old. He was pronounced dead at a Los Angeles hospital after collapsing in front of his home. 

Police are still investigating his death, though no foul play is suspected.

Born Dwight Arrington Myers, the rap legend was raised in Mount Vernon, New York where his group, Heavy D & the Boyz, became the first act to be signed on Andre Harrell’s Uptown Records. Best known for songs like “Mr Big Stuff” and “The Overweight Lover’s in the House,” the group would become one of the most successful rap groups of the early ’90s. By the late ’90s, however, Heavy began branching out into acting and starred in movies like “Life” and “The Cider House Rules.”

In his later years, Heavy continued working on his acting career, and recently returned to the stage to rock the mic at the 2011 BET Hip Hop Awards.

In his last message to his Twitter followers 15 hours ago, Heavy wrote, “Be Inspired!”

A true legend. Rest in peace, Heavy D!