HEAVY D HEAVY HITZ ZIP SERIES

Released in 1993, Blue Funk was a tougher effort with productions from Pete Rock (his younger cousin), DJ Premier, and Tony Dofat despite its lack of pop appeal, it managed to go gold.

HEAVY D HEAVY HITZ ZIP SERIES

'Is It Good to You' and the posse cut 'Don't Curse' were also popular with hip-hop fans, and the MC was also a weekly television presence via his theme song for the sketch comedy series In Living Color. It reached the R&B Top Five and just missed the pop Top Ten. Peaceful Journey was another platinum-selling hit, thanks to the single 'Now That We Found Love' - a modernized version of the Gamble/Huff composition originally recorded by the O'Jays - which made Heavy D a full-fledged mainstream success. Smooth's elegiac hit 'They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)' as well as a tribute cut on the next Heavy D & the Boyz album, 1991's Peaceful Journey. He became the subject of Pete Rock & C.L. Unfortunately, tragedy struck on the album's supporting tour, on July 15, 1990, when Trouble T-Roy fell from a height of two stories and died. Big Tyme would eventually reach number one on the R&B album chart, make the Top 20 on the pop side, and go certified platinum. 'Somebody for Me,' 'We Got Our Own Thang,' and 'Gyrlz, They Love Me' were all significant R&B hits, with the former two reaching the Top Ten plus, 'We Got Our Own Thang' attracted some attention from MTV, while his appearance on Janet Jackson's 'Alright' gave him significant mainstream exposure. By this time, though, there was a bit more depth to Heavy D's persona, and he was also hitting a peak of consistency as a songwriter. Like its predecessor, it featured production from both Marley Marl and new jack swing guru Teddy Riley. The follow-up album, 1989's Big Tyme, was the group's real breakthrough. All told, Living Large was a gold-selling hit. Big Stuff' and 'The Overweight Lover's in the House' established Heavy D's image among rap fans, and 'Don't You Know' was a crossover hit on the R&B charts, narrowly missing the Top Ten. Harrell made Heavy D & the Boyz the first artists signed to Uptown in 1986, and they released their debut album, Living Large, in 1987.

Their demo tape reached Def Jam executive AndrГ© Harrell, who was in the process of forming his own label, Uptown. He later formed the Boyz with high-school friends DJ Eddie F (born Eddie Ferrell), Trouble T-Roy (born Troy Dixon), and G-Wiz (born Glen Parrish). He discovered rap music at its inception, and by junior high was making his own demo tapes. Heavy D was born Dwight Errington Myers in Mandeville, Jamaica in 1967 and moved with his family to Mount Vernon, New York, as a young child. He produced tracks for the likes of Jay-Z and Beanie Sigel, and his own albums continued to go gold. Even after his tenure as a mainstream artist effectively ended, he maintained a steady level of popularity all the way through into the 2000s. Moreover, he was an all-around talent - an agile dancer, a successful songwriter and producer, a naturalistic actor, and an astute businessman who held an executive-level position. Musically, his appeal was just as broad - he was able to mix elements of R&B, reggae, dance, and pop into his music, but his raps were quick-tongued enough that he avoided the accusations of selling out that dogged many other crossover successes of his era. Weighing in at over 250 pounds, his girth could easily have become a one-note premise, but he varied his lyrical concerns to include positive message tracks and fun-loving party jams, and exuded warmth and respect for women without getting too graphic or sentimental. Hip-hop's original overweight lover, Heavy D parlayed an eminently likable persona and strong MC skills into a lengthy career in music, television, and film.

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