Remembering Heavy D

I’ve been flooding these Internet streets with blog posts for nearly five years now.

In that time, sadly, I’ve written many obits for fallen stars. By far, the hardest I’ve ever written was Nov. 8, 2011, the day we lost Heavy D.

Hev might not get the press and notoriety of other hip-hop legends but make no mistake about it, he was an icon.

Heavy was so special because he defied every rap stereotype you can think of. He was from the streets but never threw it in listeners faces – instead, his cred came from giving jobs to friends from the neighborhood. His raps were devoid of cursing and idle threats. Instead, he focused his energy on touching social issues, spouting off about relationships, or just keeping the party moving. And he was just fun, making him appealing to both male and female fans. He transcended generations too – even my grandma knew Heavy D.

It’s been almost two years to the day since we lost Hev, but his impact on hip hop remains.

He made hip hop fun.

Check out Heavy’s final performance and share your favorite Hev tracks below.