Rapper Heavy D dies suddenly at 44

Heavy D, the rapper known for his work with Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson, as well as his own hit "Now That We Found Love," died Tuesday in Los Angeles. He was 44.

The cause of death has not been determined, Los Angeles Coroner Chief Craig Harvey told People magazine. "He was transported from a residence in Beverly Hills and was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead in the emergency room," said Harvey, adding that his office was investigating.

Heavy D, born Dwight Errington Myers in Jamaica in 1967 and raised in the Bronx, looked in good health last month when he performed at a Michael Jackson tribute and at the BET Hip-Hop Awards. He was in the midst of a career resurgence with the BET appearance, billed as "The Return of The Big Cool," and his appearance in the new Eddie Murphy movie, "Tower Heist."

He burst onto the hip-hop scene in 1986 as the leader of Heavy D & The Boyz, becoming one of the first acts signed to Uptown Records -- later known as a home to Mary J. Blige and Jodeci -- and landing hits with "Mr. Big Stuff" and "The Overweight Lover's in the House" from the group's 1987 debut. Heavy D quickly made a name for himself with his flashy dance moves and his positive rhymes, and especially his respectful attitude toward women.

His music career was at its peak in the early '90s, with his No. 1 dance hit, "Now That We've Found Love," in 1991 and his appearances on the remix of Janet Jackson's "Alright" and Michael Jackson's "Jam," as well as performing the theme song to "In Living Color."

In the late '90s, he turned to acting on the TV series "Living Single," Off-Broadway in "Riff Raff" and in several movies, ranging from "The Cider House Rules" to "Men in Black II."

A regular user of Twitter, Heavy D had just posted his remembrances of boxing legend Joe Frazier Monday night. Heavy D's final tweet, "Be inspired!" could also apply to his life.

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