Heavy D dies

Why it matters

Dwight Errington Myers, who recorded as Heavy D, died on November 8, 2011, of a pulmonary embolism in Beverly Hills. He was 44. He had been making major-label rap records since 1986, when his group Heavy D & the Boyz signed to Uptown Records as one of the label's flagship acts. Heavy D is not always the first name that comes up when people list the most important rappers of the late 80s and early 90s. He should be. His records ("Now That We Found Love," "Nuttin' But Love," "Mr. Big Stuff," "The Overweight Lover's in the House") were among the most pop-accessible, dance-friendly, melodic rap records of an era when most of his peers were leaning hard in the other direction. He was also the first rapper to head a major-label division, taking over Uptown Records as president in 1996 after Andre Harrell left for Motown. He produced hits for a generation of singers and rappers as an exec. You probably have a Heavy D song you have danced to without knowing it was a Heavy D song. The voice was a soft-edged baritone that sounded like it was smiling. He was 44.