Heavy D. Dead at Age 44

[jaxxalude]

Musicians Grieve for Heavy D
LL Cool J, Nicki Minaj, Will.I.Am, Diddy and others pay tribute to the rapper, who died yesterday

Heavy D's sudden death yesterday at the age of 44 prompted many of the rapper's famous friends and fans to express their grief on Twitter. Here's a few of the best tributes from the past 24 hours.

LL Cool J: May GOD embrace the soul of Heavy D and Bless his family. I respected you Heavy and I always will.

Lenny Kravitz: I am so saddened by the passing of Heavy D. My condolences go out to his family. Rest in peace my friend. Guns and Roses. Lenny

Talib Kweli: When Jay Z shouted out Heavy D at MSG last night I almost broke down real talk. Hev is a special brother. When I was in JHS the girl I liked made up a dance to Overweight Lover. That's how I first got into Heavy D and the Boyz. Heavy D was always a spectacular MC but the album he made after Trouble T Roy passed was stellar. Blue Funk. We love you Hev. Without Heavy D ain't no Diddy. Ain't no Biggie. Ain't no Pete Rock & CL Smooth. Recognize. RIP. Later in life I became friends with Hev. He has been sending me new music for years. Incredible music. We love you Hev. RIP

?uestlove: Please someone tell me this Heavy D jawn is a joke. PLEASE.
d**n man. This is a wake up call like a mofo. Heavy D was a good friend & he'll be missed. Night I met him is funniest story ever.

Diddy: Heavy D is the person who gave me my 1st chance in the music industry. He got me my internship at Uptown. He Believed when no one else did.

Will.I.Am: #heavyD inspired me to be me..."We got our own thang"...thank heavy

Timbaland: the passing of heavy d really got me messed up. yall pls pray for his daughter & family.

Waka Flocka Flame: #sendingmyblessings #heavyD

Nicki Minaj: We'll never forget you babe! #hiphopelite #RIPHeavyD

Erykah Badu: Rest in beats Heav.

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.

DJ Premier: Still tripp off Heavy D...we had started the "Blue Funk 2 LP" and were on the phone while he put his B.E.T. Show 2gether at my studio

India.Arie: Heart hurting. #HeavyD ... I loved that Man. He was SO kind, Insightful and wise.. I will miss him.

SOURCE: Rolling Stone

[jaxxalude]

Heavy D, 1967-2011

Dwight "Heavy D" Myers, who passed away November 8 from a heart attack at the age of 44, was part of hip-hop's original "New School," a wave of artists that brought the genre its first real critical attention. Previously, most music fans casually dismissed rappers as singles-driven electro artists and black-music novelties. Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, N.W.A., Public Enemy and others forced the world to accept them on their terms instead of the rockist criteria used to judge Run-DMC, LL Cool J and Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five. With the New School's emergence, hip-hop grew from a fad to a generational force to be reckoned with.

However, radio programmers were reluctant to program "hardcore hip-hop," as it was called back then, for fear of upsetting older listeners. Heavy D & the Boyz were one of the few among this pioneering group to cross the generational divide and land hit singles. Beginning in 1987 with Big Tyme, the Mount Vernon, Queens crew—Heavy D, underrated producer Eddie "Eddie F" Ferrell, and backup dancers Troy "Trouble T-Roy" Dixon and Glen "G-Whiz" Parrish—dominated video shows like BET's Video Vibrations and Video Soul with funky New Jack beats and plenty of dancing. These were the kind of joints that taught you new moves to practice before the party and the latest fashions to cop at the mall. During the next several years, Heavy D & the Boyz recorded some of the best songs of the New Jack era, including "We Got Our Own Thang," "Mr. Big Stuff," and "Gyrlz, They Love Me."

When older folks reminisce about how hip-hop used to be fun, they're referring to artists like Heavy D, Salt-N-Pepa, Kool Moe Dee, Kid-N-Play and others. These artists didn't use profanity—Heavy D. & the Boyz made a track called "Don't Curse" for their 1991 album Peaceful Journey—and no one expected them to. Sadly, those days are over, and we demand that clean-cut teeny-bop acts like Soulja Boy Tell'em and New Boyz talk sh*t in order to earn their hip-hop badge. Twenty years ago, those credentials came at a higher price than potty talk: artistic creativity.

But this isn't a broadside against current hip-hop. Heavy D enjoyed a long career because he kept up with trends. His hits stretched from 1987's "Mr. Big Stuff" to 1997's "Big Daddy," and included three platinum and two gold albums. When house music infiltrated the R&B scene in the early '90s, Heavy D and the Boyz scored their biggest hit with a hip-house remake of the O'Jays' "Now That We Found Love." On the group's underrated 1992 album Blue Funk, they tapped then-new innovators like DJ Premier and Pete Rock to create a jazzy hip-hop sound; "A Buncha Niggas" featured an early verse from the Notorious B.I.G. (back when he called himself Biggie Smalls). In fact, Heavy D had a major impact as a behind-the-scenes player. He brought his cousin Pete Rock into the music industry. He mentored Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs as an A&R rep at Uptown Records. (And later served as the label's president.) The death of Trouble T-Roy from a freak accident in 1990 not only inspired Peaceful Journey, but also Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth's seminal "They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)."

It's tragic that two members of a classic feel-good rap group passed away at such a young age. But it's comforting to know that Heavy D continued to evolve right up until his death, from his forays into jiggy hip-hop (1997's Waterbed Hev) to his passion for dancehall music (which led to 2008's Vibes). After performing at this year's BET Hip-Hop Awards, he released a new album in September, Love Opus. Surprisingly, he created a sound similar to the ambient R&B of Drake and The-Dream. Amid appearances from Carl Thomas and Anthony Hamilton, Love Opus's best track is "Love in a Bottle," a song about a man who uses alcohol to ease the pain of an unfaithful girlfriend. Its topic is more realistic and universal than Drake's caterwauling about the price of fame. Then again, as Heavy D told us on "We Got Our Own Thang," "There's always meaning in a Heavy D statement."

SOURCE: Rhapsody

[bestmusicexpert]

Wow, for an artist who gets zero recurrent airplay, thats alot of articles. I wish we had gotten this much coverage on here when really influential artists like Rob Grill (Grass Roots), Tom King (Outsiders) & Chuck Ruff (Edgar Winter Group) had passed away...

[jaxxalude]

Rob Grill and Tom King, influential musicians? Grass Roots who? Outsiders who? Even Chuck Ruff will only get a blank stare from most. If you say Edgar Winter though, that's another story.
And Heavy D does get some recurrent airplay - at some older-skewing Urban stations and most particularly at a fair number of Urban AC's. Still, recurrent airplay isn't the lone criteria for how influential/important someone is. Truth of the matter is that there's a fair number of people who remember Heavy D from not only "Now That We Found Love", but also "We Got Our Own Thang", "Don't Curse", "Gyrlz, They Love Me" and even "Big Daddy". Not to mention the theme songs for such era-defining TV shows as In Living Color or MadTV.
Basically, that's pretty much it.

[mstgator]

Didn't see it mentioned in any of the articles, but he also appeared on Soul For Real's 1995 Top 40 hit "Every Little Thing I Do" (and if I recall correctly was influential in getting them signed to a record label in the first place).

[bestmusicexpert]

I hate to tell you but Tom King and Rob Grill were a HELL of a lot more talented and important to music than Heavy D. Chuck Ruff helped make the sound of Frankenstein and played with several important rock stars. True, HE isn't as well known, but he, at least, had talent.

And I took a look, other than now that he died, most stations don't play any of HIS hits. Things he guested on maybe. But WDKX, one of the biggest name black run stations in the country (Here in Rochester NY) had to download his songs to play them after his death (I know one of the main DJ's) Because they never play his songs.

Other than black people who listened to him way back when, not many people know who he was. I am a musicologist and I am hard pressed to remember ANY of his 5 top 40 hits. I don't remember hearing them back then either. And despite not liking rap much, I can name (without looking) the main hits for just about every rap act over time.

[dukelightning]

These guys as with a lot of musicians of the 60s and 70s were very important in our culture as rock & roll was still in its infancy back then. bme, you know all the hits by rap artists? Not too many people on this board can boast that. I can count the number I know on one hand....lol

[bestmusicexpert]

I didn't say I was proud of it! lol. I have been a DJ either on radio or Mobile since 1992. Plus I followed top 40 radio from around when I was 3/4 years old in 1979. I look at it as part of my job when its music (sort of) that I don't like.

[jaxxalude]

Nov 9, 2011 21:55:26 GMT -5 bestmusicexpert said:

I hate to tell you but Tom King and Rob Grill were a HELL of a lot more talented and important to music than Heavy D. Chuck Ruff helped make the sound of Frankenstein and played with several important rock stars. True, HE isn't as well known, but he, at least, had talent.

And I took a look, other than now that he died, most stations don't play any of HIS hits. Things he guested on maybe. But WDKX, one of the biggest name black run stations in the country (Here in Rochester NY) had to download his songs to play them after his death (I know one of the main DJ's) Because they never play his songs.

Other than black people who listened to him way back when, not many people know who he was. I am a musicologist and I am hard pressed to remember ANY of his 5 top 40 hits. I don't remember hearing them back then either. And despite not liking rap much, I can name (without looking) the main hits for just about every rap act over time.

First of all, you're free to say that those two were more talented - even though comparing a guitar player (Tom King) to a singer (Rob Grill) or rapper (Heavy D) is a bit of an apples-to-oranges equation.
But dude, let's talk cold hard facts here, shall we? The Outsiders were just one among countless garage rock bands in the 60's. It's not like they were The Kingsmen, The Trashmen or Paul Revere & The Raiders, much less truly important and influential acts like The Stooges, MC5 or The Sonics. And even if they weren't technically one-hit wonders, that's the impression lots of people have.
And The Grass Roots? Basically just like I myself admit Heavy D was: quite successful, but not that important in the long run. Post-psychedelic acts like them were a dime-a-dozen when they came to prominence.
And yes, you read it right: I myself don't think Heavy D was that important in terms of influence. But what might probably distinguish him from Tom King or Rob Grill is that Heavy D came to prominence at a time when hip-hop still wasn't really taken seriously as an enduring and culturally relevant genre. Until then, only the most rockist-friendly of acts (Run-DMC, Public Enemy, Beastie Boys) had any kind of respect from either the critical community or the public at large. Heavy D was part of a generation (alongside De La Soul, LL Cool J, A Tribe Called Quest, NWA, etc.) who made critics and public start to take hip-hop in its own terms rather than just the myopic rockist vision that prevailed. Besides, he was one of the first true crossover stories in rap. That alone makes him rise a bit above either The Outsiders or The Grass Roots, as Heavy D helped break barriers of acceptance. Those two other acts, as much good as they were, were basically stepping into land that had already been mined. Or in other words, they had the work of breaking territory already cut-out for them. And as much it might pain you, this last aspect counts for something when it's time to map out musical history, much less press coverage.

EDIT: And there's also another thing here. Coming into a thread whose topic is about a dead person and start complaining about how certain other musicians deserved far more coverage than the one who just passed away sounds an awful lot like pissing on someone's grave. Even if that wasn't your intention, it's quite rude, don't you think?

[bestmusicexpert]

***First of all, you're free to say that those two were more talented - even though comparing a guitar player (Tom King) to a singer (Rob Grill) or rapper (Heavy D) is a bit of an apples-to-oranges equation.

Not quite, they're all musicians and songwriters, and singers, well in Tom & Rob's case.

***But dude, let's talk cold hard facts here, shall we? The Outsiders were just one among countless garage rock bands in the 60's. It's not like they were The Kingsmen, The Trashmen or Paul Revere & The Raiders, much less truly important and influential acts like The Stooges, MC5 or The Sonics. And even if they weren't technically one-hit wonders, that's the impression lots of people have.

Four top 40 hits is not technically anything close to a one hit wonder. Its not their fault that Radio doesn't play anything other than Time Won't Let Me. Aside from the fact that they had 4 other chart songs that didn't hit the top 40 but hit either the hot 100 or bubbled under it.

***And The Grass Roots? Basically just like I myself admit Heavy D was: quite successful, but not that important in the long run. Post-psychedelic acts like them were a dime-a-dozen when they came to prominence.

Um, Psychadelic music was not before The Grass Roots, who's first hit came in 1966. Post Psychadelic would be AFTER that type of music came out or in my opinion ended and it ended at the end of the 1960's. By then, they had hit the Hot 100 EIGHT of their 14 times. Plus, they too had quite a few chart singles that missed the 40, but hit either the hot 100 or bubbled under.

***And yes, you read it right: I myself don't think Heavy D was that important in terms of influence.

So why the 7,123 articles?

***But what might probably distinguish him from Tom King or Rob Grill is that Heavy D came to prominence at a time when hip-hop still wasn't really taken seriously as an enduring and culturally relevant genre. Until then, only the most rockist-friendly of acts (Run-DMC, Public Enemy, Beastie Boys) had any kind of respect from either the critical community or the public at large. Heavy D was part of a generation (alongside De La Soul, LL Cool J, A Tribe Called Quest, NWA, etc.) who made critics and public start to take hip-hop in its own terms rather than just the myopic rockist vision that prevailed. Besides, he was one of the first true crossover stories in rap. That alone makes him rise a bit above either The Outsiders or The Grass Roots, as Heavy D helped break barriers of acceptance. Those two other acts, as much good as they were, were basically stepping into land that had already been mined. Or in other words, they had the work of breaking territory already cut-out for them. And as much it might pain you, this last aspect counts for something when it's time to map out musical history, much less press coverage.

Maybe in The Outsiders case, but I disagree on The Grass Roots. Their sound was new at the time they came out and many other groups sounded alot like them.

***EDIT: And there's also another thing here. Coming into a thread whose topic is about a dead person and start complaining about how certain other musicians deserved far more coverage than the one who just passed away sounds an awful lot like pissing on someone's grave. Even if that wasn't your intention, it's quite rude, don't you think?

No, its not rude in the slightest. I came in to poke fun at someone posting articles and tweets from rappers about an artist that not many people here have ever heard of or heard his music. (Much less since Casey never played it on AT40 and much because most people here do not like rap in the slightest bit!).

[jaxxalude]

Heavy D Had 'Flu-Like Symptoms' Before Death
L.A. County Coroner's Office and Heavy's cousin reveal rapper's ailment to New York's Daily News.

More details are emerging regarding the untimely death of New York rap legend Heavy D. According to Ed Winter of the Los Angeles County Coroner's office, the beloved artist, born Dwight Errington Myers, was already ill before he collapsed Tuesday morning just outside his Beverly Hills condominium.

"He had gone to the doctor the day before," Winter told New York's Daily News. "He had what appeared to be flu-like symptoms."

"He said he had a touch of pneumonia, maybe from traveling," cousin Ruddy Phillips, 50, told the Daily News after speaking with the entertainer's dad. "He just got back from England."

The Overweight Lover was conscious though experiencing trouble breathing when he was transported to Cedars Sinai Medical Center after a 911 call was placed at 11:25 a.m. PT on his behalf Tuesday. However, he was pronounced dead at 1 p.m. PT. Although an autopsy has been performed, the coroner is declining to announce any cause of death until toxicology tests are conducted due to Heav taking various medications.

The Mount Vernon, New York, rapper's death hit many close to heart, including Eddie F, who along with dancers G Wiz and the late Trouble T Roy were the "Boyz" in Heavy D & the Boyz. The DJ and producer called into MTV News' "RapFix Live" on Wednesday and revealed how he found out about the unfortunate news.

"I had gotten a call from a few of the guys from our crew, and I thought they were calling me about something else that we were working on," Eddie F told MTV News. "They told me the news, and at first I didn't believe 'em. I was like, 'There's no way.' And then I got a call from G Wiz, and then I started making calls. I actually spoke to Andre Harrell, and he had Puff on the other line and everybody was just getting information and really just hysterical. From there, we started getting bits and pieces in."

Heavy D & the Boyz were the first act record executive Andre Harrell signed to his Uptown Records, which released the act's debut, Living Large, in 1987. While at Uptown, Sean "Diddy" Combs got his start in the music industry as Harrell's intern. Naturally, they all became close friends with the universally adored Heavy D, whose music was well regarded by all types of music fans.

"Heavy was always a class act," Eddie F said. "The thing that he did that may be apparent, but maybe a lot of people didn't pay attention to it, he was the type of rapper like the hardest, hardest, hard rock was a fan of his, and he would move on the street. But then he was also respectful and your mother, your grandmother could listen to Heavy D. He was always stylish and fashionable and he was a professional, he was a hard worker."

SOURCE: MTV

[jaxxalude]

Nov 10, 2011 10:36:17 GMT -5 bestmusicexpert said:

***First of all, you're free to say that those two were more talented - even though comparing a guitar player (Tom King) to a singer (Rob Grill) or rapper (Heavy D) is a bit of an apples-to-oranges equation.

Not quite, they're all musicians and songwriters, and singers, well in Tom & Rob's case.

Yes, but Tom King's fame was basically through his guitar. But whatever, moving on!

Nov 10, 2011 10:36:17 GMT -5 bestmusicexpert said:

***But dude, let's talk cold hard facts here, shall we? The Outsiders were just one among countless garage rock bands in the 60's. It's not like they were The Kingsmen, The Trashmen or Paul Revere & The Raiders, much less truly important and influential acts like The Stooges, MC5 or The Sonics. And even if they weren't technically one-hit wonders, that's the impression lots of people have.

Four top 40 hits is not technically anything close to a one hit wonder. Its not their fault that Radio doesn't play anything other than Time Won't Let Me. Aside from the fact that they had 4 other chart songs that didn't hit the top 40 but hit either the hot 100 or bubbled under it.

Maybe it is. The other songs probably don't test well - assuming they get tested at all, of course (that's the most probable cause).

Nov 10, 2011 10:36:17 GMT -5 bestmusicexpert said:

***And The Grass Roots? Basically just like I myself admit Heavy D was: quite successful, but not that important in the long run. Post-psychedelic acts like them were a dime-a-dozen when they came to prominence.

Um, Psychadelic music was not before The Grass Roots, who's first hit came in 1966. Post Psychadelic would be AFTER that type of music came out or in my opinion ended and it ended at the end of the 670's. By then, they had hit the Hot 100 EIGHT of their 14 times. Plus, they too had quite a few chart singles that missed the 40, but hit either the hot 100 or bubbled under.

Mea culpa, you're right here. I guess they don't get the credit Jefferson Airplane, the Dead or Moby Grape do.

Nov 10, 2011 10:36:17 GMT -5 bestmusicexpert said:

***And yes, you read it right: I myself don't think Heavy D was that important in terms of influence.

So why the 7,123 articles?

The answer is below.

Nov 10, 2011 9:04:24 GMT -5 jaxxalude said:

But what might probably distinguish him from Tom King or Rob Grill is that Heavy D came to prominence at a time when hip-hop still wasn't really taken seriously as an enduring and culturally relevant genre. Until then, only the most rockist-friendly of acts (Run-DMC, Public Enemy, Beastie Boys) had any kind of respect from either the critical community or the public at large. Heavy D was part of a generation (alongside De La Soul, LL Cool J, A Tribe Called Quest, NWA, etc.) who made critics and public start to take hip-hop in its own terms rather than just the myopic rockist vision that prevailed. Besides, he was one of the first true crossover stories in rap.

Plus, people just might be interested in reading things, you know. Liking the subject matter and finding it interesting enough to read about it are two different things. Otherwise almost no one would read anything about Hitler or Sarah Palin.

Nov 10, 2011 10:36:17 GMT -5 bestmusicexpert said:

***EDIT: And there's also another thing here. Coming into a thread whose topic is about a dead person and start complaining about how certain other musicians deserved far more coverage than the one who just passed away sounds an awful lot like pissing on someone's grave. Even if that wasn't your intention, it's quite rude, don't you think?

No, its not rude in the slightest. I came in to poke fun at someone posting articles and tweets from rappers about an artist that not many people here have ever heard of or heard his music. (Much less since Casey never played it on AT40 and much because most people here do not like rap in the slightest bit!).

So you admit you're being rude, then?! ;D

[mstgator]

Nov 10, 2011 10:36:17 GMT -5 bestmusicexpert said:

Much less since Casey never played it on AT40

True, but he did play it on CT40 (and Shadoe played it on AT40).

[bestmusicexpert]

Yeah, but since he jumped all over someone in another thread for things having to be CLASSIC AT40 (1970-1988) I decided whats good for the goose....

[jaxxalude]

You seriously need to chill the f**k out, dude! If you did, you'd probably sit down and actually read that "classic" AT40 goes until 1995.
I mean, you do know there was life after Casey Kasem left AT40 in 1988, right?...