Heavy D aka Dwight Arrington Myers died on Tuesday at the age of 44. The Jamaican-American rapper and music producer was best known for his dancing and tongue-twisting rhymes dating back to the 1990’s.
A 911 call came from his Beverly Hills home around 11:25 a.m., indicating that a male was unconscious on the walkway. Paramedics found the victim to be conscious and able to speak when they arrived. They transported him to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center where he was pronounced dead in the emergency room at 1:00 p.m. Reports indicate that pneumonia may have been a factor in the death.
The man who found Heavy D indicates that he had just returned from shopping and began having respiratory distress as he walked up some stairs. He told Adam Mills, a designer who lived in the building and found the struggling man, “I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe.”
Police are investigating the circumstances of the death and indicate there are no suspicions of foul play.
Dwight’s rise to fame began in the late 80’s as the leader of Heavy D & the Boyz. He also made several cameo appearances on hit songs with Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson.
Though his career had cooled after his early years of success, he made a comeback performance at the 2011 BET Hip-Hop Awards, and also performed with La Toya Jackson during the Michael Jackson Tribute in Wales.
Check out his BET performance on video below:
Photo Credit: Adriana M. Barraza