Coby Cub

Rapper Heavy D, 44, Passed away from Complications with Pneumonia

Paul Kisseloff, Reporter
December 3, 2011
Filed under Arts & Entertainment

          “Sittin’ in my room with my smoker’s jacket on…” These are the opening line to the iconic hip hop classic “The Overweight Lover’s in the House”, a song that typified its author and performer, Dwight Arrington Myers, more commonly known as Heavy D, hip hop legend and front man for the rap group Heavy D and the Boyz.         

          Known as the Overweight Lover, Heav’, as he was affectionately called, made being chubby chic.  He was always impeccably dressed and always carried himself with a suave and sophisticated demeanor.  Born on the island of Jamaica, W.I. in 1967, he and his family immigrated to the U.S. when he was just a child and settled in Mount Vernon, NY.  He began writing rap lyrics as a young boy, and at sixteen formed the group Heavy D and the Boyz with two of his close friends. They would go on to have some of the New Jack Swing era’s most memorable hits including: “Now That We Found Love”, “Somebody for Me” and “Nuttin’ But Love”.  Hip hop mogul and superstar Sean “Diddy” Combs has credited Heavy D as helping him get his start in the music business. Many young artists give props to Myers as their inspiration to becoming rappers. 

                Heavy D was not only large physically but spiritually.  His daughter Xea put it best at his funeral on November 18, saying that her dad “was still here, not in the flesh, but spiritually.”  I’ll only add that his music and memory live on.  Peace Heav’.