Heavy D Passes Away

DWIGHT MYERS, 44, the Jamaican-born, Mt. Vernon, NY-raised hip-hop performer, executive and actor better known as Heavy D, was found unconscious near the entrance to his Beverly Hills, CA, home, and later passed away from unknown causes. As the leader of Heavy D & the Boyz, the late ‘80s hip-hop group, he released five albums, all on the Uptown label, later being named head after the exit of Andre Harrell. From 1987-'94, Heavy D & the Boyz worked with the likes of Notorious B.I.G., DJ Premier, Marley Marl and longtime affiliate and fellow Mt. Vernon native Pete Rock. As a solo artist, Heavy D remained close with Uptown Records executive Sean "Diddy" Combs and the mogul's Bad Boy Records imprint. Heavy D released the Grammy-nominated reggae album Vibes in 2008. Heavy D and the Boyz performed the title track to Fox's In Living Color, and also appeared on the program. As an actor, Heavy D would appear in films such as Life. At the time of his death, he was working on an album, Love Opus, featuring Anthony Hamilton and Carl Thomas. Just weeks ago, Heavy D performed at the 2011 BET Hip Hop Awards, just days after singing his hit Michael Jackson collaboraton, “Jam,” alongside LaToya Jackson. (11/8p)