Rapper Heavy D Dead At 44

Rapper Heavy D, founder of the influential hip hop collective Heavy D & the Boyz, died Tuesday afternoon, November 8, in a Los Angeles hospital after being found unconscious outside of his Beverly Hills home.  

TMZ and the Chicago Tribune report that police are still investigating the cause of death, but no foul play is suspected. Heavy D had recently battled with pneumonia after returning from an overseas trip.

During the heyday of Heavy D & the Boyz, the group penned the theme song for "In Living Color" and released successful albums, like their 1987 debut, Living Large, and hit singles like "Now That We Found Love." Heavy D also collaborated with both Michael Jackson ("Jam") and Janet Jackson ("Alright").

The rapper, real name Dwight Arrington Myers, also segued into acting, appearing in movies like "Life" and "Big Trouble" and the TV show "Boston Public." He has a cameo role in the new Eddie Murphy and Ben Stiller comedy, "Tower Heist."

In late September, he released a new album, Love Opus, on iTunes.

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