Rap legend and actor Heavy D has passed away. The superstar who was one of Hip Hop’s most prolific and influential rappers died yesterday at the age of 44.
Born Dwight Arrington Myers on May 24, 1967, Heavy D was pronounced dead at 1pm after he was rushed to an L.A. hospital around noon yesterday November 8th.
According to TMZ, “a 911 call was placed from Heavy’s Beverly Hills home around 11:25 AM to report an unconscious male on the walkway.
When help arrived, we’re told Heavy D was conscious and speaking — and was transported to a nearby hospital where he died a short time later.”
The Jamaican/American rapper, record producer, singer and actor, Heavy D is famously known for his group Heavy D & the Boyz, a hip hop group which included G-Whiz (Glen Parrish), “Trouble” T. Roy (Troy Dixon), and Eddie F (born Edward Ferrell), his appearances on A Different World, Roc and Living Single.
Heavy D was born in 1967 in Jamaica before migrating to New York as a young child. He formed the group, Heavy D & The Boyz in 1987; releasing their first album, Living Large. Additionally, Heavy D is credited as the author of the theme song for the internationally acclaimed comedy series, In Living Color. He also featured on Jam, the legendary single from pop icon, Michael Jackson in 1991 as well as Alright alongside Janet Jackson. Heavy D's also known for singles such as Now That We've Found Love and Dem No Worry We, alongside Dancehall superstar, Supercat.
Heavy D's last two performances took place in Wales during a Michael Jackson tribute concert and at the BET Hip Hop Awards in Atlanta.
He recently ventured into reggae music and was being described as a reggae fusion artist.
Police are currently investigating the death — but so far, there are no obvious signs of foul play.
Portmore Empire deejay Vanessa Bling, more popularly known as Gaza Slim, was reportedly robbed by Clive Williams, one of the men Vybz Kartel has been accused of murdering.
According to reported, Gaza Slim filed a report with the St. Andrew North police of the alleged incident. She said on October 29, about 8 p.m., as she was walking along Coolshade Drive in Havendale when she was pounced upon by the man claiming to be Williams.
She told the police that the robber, Williams, took her BlackBerry phone and jewellery.
Clive Williams, also known as ‘Lizard’, was allegedly murdered on August 16 in Havendale by Vybz Kartel ans his co-accused, Calvin Haye, Shawn Storm and Kiro Jones.
His body has not been found.
He was reportedly killed over the loss of an illegal gun.
The Gregory Isaacs Foundation, with the support Tad’s Record and the African Museum label, has released a public service announcement featuring footage of iconic Reggae singer Gregory Isaacs warning children about the dangers of drugs, and talking frankly about his struggles with drug addiction.
Spearheaded by Isaacs’ widow June Isaacs, the PSA will be airing on all television stations in Jamaica throughout the month of November – the island’s Drug Awareness Month. Part sales proceeds from Tad’s Record’s latest release, Gregory Isaacs – The African Museum & Tad’s Collection Vol. II, will support the Isaacs Foundation’s anti-drug campaign and charitable giving program.
Marred by a crippling drug addiction throughout his 42-year career, Gregory Isaacs was almost as well known for his drug-related tangles with the law as he was for created some of Reggae’s most memorable hits. The singer, celebrated for Reggae classics like “My Number One,” “Tune In,” “Hard Drugs,” and the 1982 international hit “Night Nurse,” was repeatedly arrested for possession of cocaine, and served time in Kingston’s General Penitentiary for illegal firearm possession.
Gregory Isaacs passed away on October 25, 2010 after a long battle with lung cancer.
“Gregory was an amazing artist, one of the greatest, but he did have his demons,” says Tad’s Record CEO Tad Dawkins. “It is important to warn young people, especially up and coming entertainers about the dangers of getting mixed up in drugs, and its best they hear the message from a public figure who has been down that road. I’m glad to be part of this campaign.”
PITBULL FILES COUNTERSUIT AGAINST LINDSAY LOHAN
Looks like that pre-VMA olive branch has been snapped: Pitbull has filed a countersuit against Lindsay Lohan, who is suing him for defamation over a line in his smash hit "Give Me Everything."
In his new suit, Pitbull alleges that the lyric in question — "I got it locked up like Lindsay Lohan" — is justified, given the actress' ongoing legal problems, and questions whether Lohan is eligible to file suit in New York (her original claim was filed in New York state court, as she claimed to be a resident of Nassau County), since she has been spending the majority of her time serving probation in California.
"In light of Ms. Lohan's continuing obligations to the State of California, as well as the foregoing facts, Ms. Lohan is a citizen of California, not New York," Pitbull's countersuit states.
Lohan first filed suit against the rapper in August, seeking an injunction to stop all broadcast of "Give Me Everything," claiming that "by virtue of its wide appeal, condemnation, excoriation, disparaging or defamatory statements by the defendants about the plaintiff are destined to do irreparable harm."
The following week, in a statement on his Planet Pit website, Pitbull apologized to Lohan for any unintended harm from the "Everything" lyric, and said that he actually "supports" the actress' career.
"In no way, shape or form would I want to bring that on anybody," he said. "I didn't look to defame, degrade or hurt someone's career. For me, mentioning it on a #1 record around the world, I thought it would be helping someone's career, and keeping them relevant. We mention people's names all the time; when it comes to rapping, it's always about double meanings and metaphors and how you flip certain things."
Where has Diana King been?
Well, the quintessential singer and songwriter and Jamaican-born and raised artiste, overcame her fight with Multiple Sclerosis and is back in the game with the worldwide release of her latest album AgirLnaMeKING, on her birthday – November 8th.
Diana compares herself to a long distance runner; after sprinting from the starting line with mega hits Shy Guy, I Say A Little Prayer For You and L-L-Lies; she calls AgirLnaMeKING, her ‘second wind’.
Released on her own record label ThinkLikeAgirL Music, this latest endeavour will offer fans and music lovers an insight into Diana’s life and music reiterating her unique style which is contemporary, yet deep rooted in Jamaican tradition. AgirLnaMeKING encompasses Diana’s distinctive way of converging Jamaican dialect with Reggae, R&B, Soul, Dance and Pop, that has made her a standout artist since the release of the first hit Shy Guy.
“I have always believed in staying true to myself, as an artist and as a person, these new songs are ‘imperfectly perfect’ and they take you on a musical journey and show my versatility” Diana says.
AgirLnaMeKING began as a journey that encompassed true grit; inspiration and the healing that Diana needed to overcome her fight with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), which threatened to end her career. She overcame the pain by immersing herself in writing and producing music, which was both therapeutic and inspiring. The challenge didn’t deter her, but affirmed her resolve to rebound and proved to be a catalyst to fight and win. Diana received ProTools® certification, built a home studio and in 2010 launched her label, ThinkLikeAgirL Music.
“Music was my therapy and I spent every waking minute in the studio, firstly as a way to distract myself from what I was feeling physically, but by the time I came up for air I had written over a hundred songs and I felt great!” Diana recalls.
AgirLnaMeKING is a collection of thirteen (13) songs of the one hundred that she is sharing with the world.
With a strong brew of genres seasoned with Reggae, King stays true to herself and her roots as this is what makes her the unique artist millions of fans around the world have appreciated and loved and why she has never been duplicated.
Diana expresses her gratitude to her fans and music lovers across the world for their unfathomed support. “I know it’s been a long time since my last album and it’s been challenging to say the least, but I appreciate your patience and I am humbled by your loyalty, because there’s no me without you.”
Earlier this year, Diana talked about her new album “AgirLnaMeKING” and the natural therapy she gained from the music as she wrote and produced all of the songs herself, while dealing with her diagnosis of “MS” Multiple Sclerosis.