Rapper and actor Heavy D, one of the defining voices of hip-hop's late-80s and early-90s golden age, has died. The 44-year-old was taken to hospital with breathing problems, just hours after he wrote to his followers on Twitter, "BE INSPIRED!"
Paramedics arrived at Heavy D's Beverly Hills condo at around noon on Tuesday, after receiving a 911 call from a neighbour. The rapper was conscious and talking, but had collapsed after returning home from a shopping trip. "There doesn't appear to be any foul play," police lieutenant Mark Rosen told the New York Daily News. "We believe it was medically related." According to LA's KTLA News, Heavy was suffering from pneumonia after a recent trip from Europe. He was taken by ambulance to Cedars Sinai Medical Center, where he died at about 1pm. Autopsy results are forthcoming.
Born Dwight Arrington Myers in Jamaica and raised in New York state, Heavy D barrelled into hip-hop history alongside G-Whiz, Trouble T-Roy and Eddie F – collectively known as Heavy D & the Boyz. Discovered by Def Jam exec Andre Harrell, who had helped launch the careers of LL Cool J and Run-DMC, the group's debut album came out on his Uptown Records in 1987.
Although Heavy's 300lb swagger became notorious with the single The Overweight Lover's In the House, it wasn't until 1989's Big Tyme that the Boyz really hit the mainstream. They mixed nimble rhymes with snatches of R&B and reggae, becoming key players in the genre known as new jack swing – and offering a playful alternative to contemporaries such as Public Enemy and NWA.
With 1991's Peaceful Journey, Heavy D & the Boyz went platinum; the singles Now That We Found Love, Is It Good To You and Don't Curse were cemented in hip-hop history. The group gained further prominence by recording the theme-song to sketch show In Living Color, and Heavy later collaborated with acts including BB King, Notorious BIG, and with Michael Jackson, on the 1991 single Jam. After their last album, 1993's Nuttin' But Love, Heavy continued releasing solo albums – most recently Love Opus, released in September this year.
Heavy also became an actor, appearing in episodes of Boston Public and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. His film roles included The Cider House Rules, and a cameo in recent release Tower Heist.
Despite his acting appearances, Heavy D hadn't performed live in 15 years when he made his return last month. He joined La Toya Jackson for a rendition of Run at the Michael Jackson tribute concert in Wales, and delivered a medley of hits at the Bet Hip-Hop awards. Just this week, he spoke to DJ Tim Westwood on BBC Radio 1Xtra, saying he prepared for the Bet show by practicing eight hours a day for six weeks.
Hip-hop stars were expressing their sorrow over Heavy's sudden death, writing mini-eulogies on Twitter. LL Cool J, Common, Estelle, Usher, Timbaland, Big Boi and Nicki Minaj were among those who posted messages. "I can't even think right now yall [sic]. Heav was my dude. What a friend. My heart is heavy," wrote Q-Tip.
"U will be missed Heavy D so many laughs we've shared but your Music is Timeless and will Always be Around 4ever," added Missy Elliott. Brandy paid tribute by referring back to the rapper's final message. "I am shocked, overwhelmed, and all of the above at the death of @heavyd," she said. "May you rest in peace!! I love you and I promise to live INSPIRED!"
Firm favorite of mine at the moment I can't this tune outta my head. So Old Skool and in many more ways than 1.
DJ Halo and Chase 1 formed The Criminal Minds in 1985 producing UK Hip Hop and released their now very rare and sort after first EP entitled 'Guilty As Charged' in 1990. 1992 they released one of my all-time favorite Hardcore (breakbeat rave) tunes "Baptised by dub" and now with this new E.P "Regroup The Loops" they have gone full circle back to that UK Hip Hop sound. Wicked!
Released on the FAT-HOP record Label 19/sept/11, fathop005ep Contact ohmage88@hotmail.com for pre-order Facebook Reverbnation
An exclusive free track from up & coming producer EVM (Luke) for you listening pleasure. With his debut E.P "Groove Content" about to be released on Ross Allens Meltdown music, and his music being championed by the likes of Giles Peterson, Huw Stephens & many more this talented beatsmith is certainly one to keep an eye on! Grab "STAY FRESH" for free below.....
You can catch EVM playing alongside The Moodyboyz (Studio Rockers) , Part 2 (New Flesh) , Mau'lin (Ho-tep) and Onoe Caponoe (Audio Doughnuts) at Catch, 22 Kingsland Road, Shoreditch on Thursday 23rd June . Free Entry!
The eagerly awaited MONOKROME book is finally available for pre-order. Packed with black and white sketches, inked line work and mixed media, it boasts a whole number of features…
Top graffiti writers from around the world, including NASH & DOES, REMI/ROUGH, HUSH, ASKER, ITCH, INKFETISH, KILLER GERBIL, DENZ, KOFIE, INKIE, SYSTEM and many more.
Compiled and written by old school UK writer Robert ‘CUTE’ Whitelock
Beautiful graphic design by Aaron Munday at 12 Orchards
Casebound limited edition with cover design by character supremo ITCH
Amazing blackbook work from 31 featured artists and interviews with all of them
224 pages of black and white graffiti designs
Foreward by old school veteran HUSH of ‘FED THE NONSENSE’ crew
Soundbites section, featuring the talents of a mixture of worldwide artists with many different styles, and quotes from a handful of writers.
Check this out - Hipopotam's digitalised a collection of proper old school retro classic handheld electronic games to play on-line. Have all those memories come flooding back and wanting more.
The Dayton Family outa Detroit. This is the video for the newest single off the new Psycho EP released on Psychopathic’s sub label Hatchet House entitled - er... “Cocaine.”
Smiley Culture, who died on March 15 aged 48, allegedly from self-inflicted stab wounds during a police drugs raid, produced two of the most influential reggae singles of the 1980s, notably Police Officer, a song about police harassment.
The supposedly autobiographical song ("Everytime me drive me car police a stop me superstar"), reached number 12 in the charts in 1984 and told of his being caught in possession of cannabis but being let off with a request for an autograph when the officer concerned recognised him as a reggae star.
It earned Smiley Culture an invitation to meet the Queen who, he claimed, said she listened to his records at Buckingham Palace. He also appeared twice on Top of the Pops, the BBC apparently failing to understand the meaning of the term "ganja". The refrain, "Police officer no give me producer", a reference to a notice to produce driving documents at a police station, became a catchphrase on south London streets. Smiley Culture was one of the first artists to produce a home-grown version of reggae that expressed a British identity and bore comparison with the original Jamaican style. His other hit, Cockney Translation (1984), was a typically humorous guide to Cockney slang delivered in Jamaican patois ("Cockney say scarper. We say scatter/Cockney say rabbit. We chatter/We say bleach. Cockney knackered/Cockney say triffic. We say waaacked!"). The song has become a tool for English teachers wanting to illustrate the influence of immigration on the English language. Though Smiley Culture's chart success was short-lived, his fast-paced, comical blend of London street talk, stand-up entertainment and reggae rhythms paved the way for such performers as The Streets and Dizzee Rascal. He was born David Emmanuel in 1962 to a Jamaican father and a Grenadian mother and grew up in Stockwell, south London. He attended Tulse Hill School where he acquired the nickname "Smiley" due to his method of chatting up girls – he would ask them for a smile. As reggae became popular he and his friends would practise "chatting" – rapping staccato lyrics over rhythm tracks. After leaving school Smiley Culture became a DJ with the reggae sound system Saxon Studio International and worked with artists such as Maxi Priest, Papa Levi and Tippa Irie, popularising the "fast chat" style of talking over records. This was inspired by Jamaican acts such as Ranking Joe, but taken to new levels by Saxon MCs (deejays). Eventually Smiley Culture was signed by the London-based reggae label Fashion Records.
The police raid on his home at Warlingham, Surrey, came after two kilos of cocaine were recovered from a drugs mule who had been apprehended trying to enter Britain – allegedly as part of a separate plot in which Smiley Culture was implicated. A police source claimed that the singer asked to be allowed to make a cup of tea and killed himself with a carving knife while he was in the kitchen. The Independent Police Complaints Commission is to investigate his death.
Boom boxes were introduced commercially by various companies in the late 1970’s, when stereo capabilities were added to existing designs of the radio-cassette recorder, which had appeared earlier that decade. More powerful and sophisticated models were subsequently introduced. They are often associated with 1980s phenomena such as breakdancing and hip hop culture, having been introduced into the mainstream consciousness through music videos, movies, television and documentaries. It was during this time that the major manufacturers competed as to who could produce the biggest, loudest, clearest-sounding, bassiest, flashiest and/or most novel boomboxes. As the decade progressed, manufacturers tended to compete more on price (often at the expense of quality), and smaller designs (often designed for simple background listening) became more popular. This era was prior to the introduction and cultural entrenchment of the Walkman style, personal stereos with headphones which would later displace boom boxes in popularity.
Features
Technically a Boombox is, at its simplest, two or more loudspeakers, an amplifier, a radiotuner, and a cassette and/or CD player component, all housed in a single plastic or metal case, often with a handle for portability. Most units can be powered by AC or DC cables, as well as batteries. Various boombox designs differ greatly in size. Larger, more powerful units may require 10 or more size-D batteries, may measure more than thirty inches in width, and can weigh more than 20 pounds. Audio quality and feature sets vary widely, with high-end models providing features and sound comparable to some home stereo systems. Most models offer volume, tone and balance (Left/Right) controls. More sophisticated models may feature dual cassette decks (often featuring high-speed dubbing), separate bass level control, five- or 10-band graphic equalizers, Dolby noise reduction, analog or LED sound level (VU) meters, larger speakers, ’soft-touch’ tape deck controls, multiple shortwave (SW) band reception, auto song search functions for cassettes, Line and/or Phono inputs and outputs, microphone inputs, loudness switches and detachable speakers. A handful of models even featured an integrated vinyl record player or a (typically black and white) television screen, although the basic radio/cassette models have historically been by far the most popular. A few of the most modern boomboxes have integrated (or removable) satellite radio tuners. Also in many cases with newer versions of the boombox, iPod docks have been put in place of cassette players, creating a fusion of new technology and old personality.
