Heavy D Dead: 'Love Opus' His Last Work
Hip-Hop legend Heavy D released his first rap album since 1999 just two months before his Tuesday death.
Heavy dropped Love Opus Sept. 17 with the album only featuring eight tracks. In 2008, Heavy released an album composed exclusively of reggae jams with no rapping.
Heavy D, also known as Dwight Arrington Myers, started rapping in 1986 with his group, Heavy D and the Boys.
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The rapper's big break through came in 1989 with Big Tyme going platinum and reaching No. 1, and again in 1994 with Nuttin' But Love.
Heavy D performed at the Hip-Hop awards in October making it his first live performance in 15 years.
Despite weighing 344 pounds at the time of his death, Heavy D was reportedly putting trying to get into shape and was very serious about his health in the months before his death.
According to TMZ, Heavy ran nearly every day and was a member of several Los Angeles gyms. Heavy D lost 150 pounds in 2008 thanks to one of his trainers, known only as Tony. The trainer told TMZ that Heavy visited Ultra Body Fitness in West Hollywood three months before his death to re-strategize his training program.
Tony said Heavy was looking to get back into the work out groove after not being active for a while. Heavy began exercising more vigorously, running, hiking and even kickboxing as he spent time at a few different gyms.
Tony also told TMZ that at Heavy's most intense, the rapper was training six to seven days a week.
According to the L.A. coroner’s office, Heavy died of respiratory failure.
Law enforcement told TMZ that Heavy was shopping and then stopped at a banister to gather his breathe. His neighbor phoned emergency services.
The hip-hop legend passed away at the hospital.
