heavy D r.i.p.

The Source Magazine Remembers Heavy D 13 Years Later

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Albumism HeavyD MainImage

Albumism HeavyD MainImage

On this day in Hip Hop history, “The Overweight Lover” Heavy D passed away in Los Angeles, California. If he were alive today, he’d be 57 years old.

Heavy D, born Dwight Errington Myers in Jamaica, moved to Mount Vernon, New York in the late 1970s. In the mid-1980s Heavy D along with DJ Eddie F and dancers T-Roy and G-Wiz signed to Uptown Records and began their journey to fame and adoration as Heavy D & The Boyz. The group’s debut Living Large released in 1987 and was a marginal success selling 300,000 copies.

The group began to rise in popularity, helping Heavy D to become pop sensation. The success of the group’s second and third albums, Big Tyme and Peaceful Journey, brought Heavy D the opportunity to collaborate with artists like Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson, B.B. King and more. Through the start of the 1990s, Heavy D began making more and more appearances in music videos and on TV and in films.

In the mid-1990s Heavy D became the first rapper to run a record label when he became president of Uptown Records. Prior to becoming president, Heavy D was instrumental in the hiring of Sean Combs as an intern. He also convinced Andre Harrel to sign Jodeci. As president, Heavy D worked with and developed boy band Soul for Real and was the executive producer and principal writer for majority of their debut album. His success as an executive led to him becoming senior vice president of Universal Music.

Heavy D passed away on November 8, 2011 from complications caused by a blood clot in his leg. His final performance at the 2011 BET Hip Hop Awards was his first televised performance in 15 years. Heavy D’s legacy will live on forever in the work that he created and the mark that he left on the Hip Hop industry as a whole.

The post The Source Magazine Remembers Heavy D 13 Years Later appeared first on .

Today In Hip Hop History: Marley Marl Dropped The Juice Crew Debut Album ‘In Control Vol. 1’ 36 Years Ago

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tumblr 575a810be23750438e695011bdd62aee 31a73e27 640

The title of “super producer” should not be taken lightly. For every era of Hip-Hop, there is a man behind the keys set the tone. Dr. Dre, Pete Rock, RZA, Swizz Beatz, Jermaine Dupri, Timbaland, The Neptunes, Mike Will Made-It, and Metro Boomin are among the few who have dictated what Hip Hop has sounded like over the years. Super producers have even spanned genres to influenced music as a whole, bringing the Hip Hop style to the masses.

On this day in Hip Hop history, the culture’s first super producer, Marley Marl, released his debut compilation, In Control, Vol. 1, and forever changed the sound of Hip Hop. Before this album, Marley Marl’s true importance to Hip Hop had yet to be openly stated. It was known that he had a hand in some of the biggest records to have out at the time but this album put them all in the same place, proving what Marley Marl was doing to help Hip Hop evolve.

Before Marley Marl, hip-hop production was quite primitive: the drums sounded synthetic, the loops were monotonous, and as a whole, production was more of a skeleton waiting to be filled by an MC. Marley Marl gave the instrumental life. His signature drum loops and soulful samples brought a new tone to Hip Hop. A Marley Mal beat served less as a compliment to the artist’s ability and more as fuel to jumpstart the intensity of the rapper, bringing out the best in him or her.

Commercially, this album was the success it was bound to be. Featuring Juice Crew members Biz Markie(RIP), Craig G., Roxanne Shante, Big Daddy Kane, Kool G Rap, Heavy D, and more from Marley Marl’s private army. Pushed by the infamous Cold Chillin’ Records, the album peaked at #163 on the Billboard 200 and brought great publicity to Cold Chillin’ as a top label in Hip Hop. Following this album, the label rose to become a household name in Hip-Hop, and Marl Marley grew to become an immortal icon of Hip Hop culture.

The post Today In Hip Hop History: Marley Marl Dropped The Juice Crew Debut Album ‘In Control Vol. 1’ 36 Years Ago first appeared on The Source.

The post Today In Hip Hop History: Marley Marl Dropped The Juice Crew Debut Album ‘In Control Vol. 1’ 36 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Happy Heavenly Born Day to ‘The Overweight Lover’ Heavy D!

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Albumism HeavyD MainImage

On this day in Hip Hop history, “The Overweight Lover” Heavy D was born in Mandeville, Jamaica, in 1967. If he were alive today, he’d be 56 years old.

Heavy D, born Dwight Errington Myers, moved to Mount Vernon, New York, in the late 1970s. In the mid-1980s, Heavy D, DJ Eddie F, and dancers T-Roy and G-Wiz signed with Uptown Records and began their journey to fame and adoration as Heavy D & The Boyz. The group’s debut Living Large was released in 1987 and was a marginal success selling 300,000 copies.

The group began to rise in popularity, helping Heavy D to become a pop sensation. The success of the group’s second and third albums, Big Tyme and Peaceful Journey, allowed Heavy D to collaborate with artists like Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson, B.B. King, and more. Through the start of the 1990s, Heavy D began making more and more appearances in music videos and on TV, and in films.

In the mid-1990s, Heavy D became the first rapper to run a record label when he became president of Uptown Records. Before becoming president, Heavy D was instrumental in hiring Sean Combs as an intern. He also convinced Andre Harrel to sign Jodeci. As president, Heavy D worked with and developed the boy band Soul for Real and was the executive producer and principal writer for the majority of their debut album. His success as an executive led to him becoming senior vice president of Universal Music.

Heavy D passed away on November 8, 2011, from complications caused by a blood clot in his leg. His final performance at the 2011 BET Hip Hop Awards was his first televised performance in 15 years. Heavy D’s legacy will live on forever in the work he created and the mark he left on the Hip Hop industry as a whole.

The post Happy Heavenly Born Day to ‘The Overweight Lover’ Heavy D! first appeared on The Source.

The post Happy Heavenly Born Day to ‘The Overweight Lover’ Heavy D! appeared first on The Source.

Happy Heavenly Birthday to ‘The Overweight Lover’ Heavy D

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On this day in Hip Hop history, “The Overweight Lover” Heavy D was born in Mandeville, Jamaica, in 1967. If he were alive today, he’d be 56 years old.

Heavy D, born Dwight Errington Myers, moved to Mount Vernon, New York, in the late 1970s. In the mid-1980s, Heavy D, DJ Eddie F, and dancers T-Roy and G-Wiz signed with Uptown Records and began their journey to fame and adoration as Heavy D & The Boyz. The group’s debut Living Large was released in 1987 and was a marginal success selling 300,000 copies.

The group began to rise in popularity, helping Heavy D to become a pop sensation. The success of the group’s second and third albums, Big Tyme and Peaceful Journey, allowed Heavy D to collaborate with artists like Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson, B.B. King, and more. Through the start of the 1990s, Heavy D began making more and more appearances in music videos and on TV, and in films.

In the mid-1990s, Heavy D became the first rapper to run a record label when he became president of Uptown Records. Before becoming president, Heavy D was instrumental in hiring Sean Combs as an intern. He also convinced Andre Harrel to sign Jodeci. As president, Heavy D worked with and developed the boy band Soul for Real and was the executive producer and principal writer for the majority of their debut album. His success as an executive led to him becoming senior vice president of Universal Music.

Heavy D passed away on November 8, 2011, from complications caused by a blood clot in his leg. His final performance at the 2011 BET Hip Hop Awards was his first televised performance in 15 years. Heavy D’s legacy will live on forever in the work he created and the mark he left on the Hip Hop industry as a whole.

The post Happy Heavenly Birthday to ‘The Overweight Lover’ Heavy D appeared first on The Source.