Ranking the Best Heavy D Albums

Heavy D may be the greatest hip-hop legend who gets the least amount of credit.

Think about it: He and his partners The Boyz were the first hip-hop group signed to Uptown Records. His late 80s/early 90s run was coated with gold and platinum hits, many of them certified classics. He made songs with both Janet AND Michael Jackson, was a successful actor, performed the theme song for In Living Color, mentored emerging 90s acts like Monifah and Soul for Real, indirectly helped lead to the creation of Bad Boy Records – and that’s just off the top of my head.

Most importantly, Hev was one of the most beloved and respected figures in the game. In an industry where it seems everyone has at least one vocal enemy, I’ve never heard one negative word against Dwight Myers, an artist who always did things his way. When the industry got more hard core and crude, he dropped “Don’t Curse” and danced harder. When rappers became sex symbols, the Overweight Lover didn’t break a sweat. Homie was body positive before y’all had a podcast to rant on.

Hev is one of the most important figures in hip-hop’s formative years. That’s why his loss in 2011 was so painful. He was respected, true, but never truly celebrated for the foundation he laid.

So let’s give those flowers today as we look back at Heavy D’s entire discography, both his run with The Boyz through 1994 and his later solo records that followed in ’97.

I’ve got nuttin but love for this man. Now and forever.

9. Heavy (1999)

Soul in Stereo rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

Edd said: Heavy D’s “worst” album really isn’t that bad. Heavy is a much more personal album from Hev that usual as he speaks candidly about the hardships of his childhood, including the struggles his parents faced and tributes to siblings who have passed. The fun loving Heavster is mostly gone here but there’s still time for guests like Q-Tip, Big Pun, 8ball and more to come through and spit, cypher-style. There are a few cringy spots at the end of the album that drag things down and the, um, heavy mood hurts the energy at times but an introspective Hev is still worth a listen.

Forgotten favorites: “Listen,” “Dancin’ in the Night,” “On Point”

8. Vibes (2008)

Soul in Stereo rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

Edd said: Remember when Hev released a reggae album? ME NEITHER. Heavy D may rep Money Earnin Mount Vernon in NY, but he was born in Jamaica, and that influence was prevalent in several of his previous projects leading up to Vibes. Here, he fully embraces the culture – there’s no rapping, just Hev riding the riddims. And he sounds pretty good doing it! In fact, he’s almost unrecognizable on several on these tracks; his voice sounds pretty strong on uplifting joints like “No Matter What.” The second half of the album isn’t quite as rock-solid as the first but, overall, the project is a lot better than you’d probably expect. Vibes feels more like a passion project than an attempt to chase hits and, in that respect, it works.

Forgotten favorites: “Long Distance Girlfriend,” “No Matter What,” “Delilah”

7. Blue Funk (1993)

Soul in Stereo rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

Edd said: Fun fact: Blue Funk is celebrating 32 years on the very day I’m typing these words. Crazy.

After two very successful albums following his debut with The Boyz, the crew switched things up on Blue Funk, leaning into a much harder edge than those previous albums. If anyone questioned Hev’s lyrical prowess or thought his sound was too soft, Hev kicked in the door on those doubters here. But that commitment to strictly MC’ing comes at a cost – Blue Funk wasn’t nearly as successful as Peaceful Journey and Big Tyme, but it still went gold, and that was nothing to sneeze at in ’93. Although the album is a pretty solid lyrical showcase with strong production from Pete Rock, DJ Premier, Jesse West and more, its biggest flaw is that hardly anything stands out (other than the all-star showcase of “A Bunch of N****s”). It winds up largely forgettable in the long run.

Forgotten favorites: “Truthful,” “Here Comes the Heavster,” “A Bunch of N****s”

6. Love Opus (2011)

Soul in Stereo rating: 4 stars out of 5

Edd said: I’m sure I’m gonna get mauled by Old Head Rap Twitter for putting this project over Blue Funk, but I said what I said – and I said that Love Opus is a surprisingly enjoyable project. Releasing just a couple of months before Hev’s untimely death, Love Opus is a celebration of all things love. Even the covert art is an abstract painting of what Hev perceived as love. Love Opus is a mellow, R&B-fueled exploration of love, with Hev doing a lot of crooning, but when the bars pop out, there’s still as strong as ever. Like the artwork, the songs are a little abstract at times, but there’s beauty in that. And the album’s short runtime ensures that it doesn’t overstay its welcome. I’m sure most of y’all would have this much further down the list but this one really resonates with me. Besides, I think it’s pretty powerful that Hev’s final project would be this declaration of love.

Forgotten favorites: “Put It All On Me,” “Still Missing You,” “Dance for You”

5. Living Large (1987)

Soul in Stereo rating: 4 stars out of 5

Edd said: Journey with me back to 1987 when this rap thing actually was FUN. Living Large, the debut from Hev and the Boyz, is one of those records that personified hip-hop for me in the 80s – high-energy, infectious and downright cool. Whether Hev was bragging about his Nikes or scooping up your girl, he never lacked confidence and it was all in good fun. Living Large is often cited as one of the greatest albums of the golden age of hip-hop but, even as a fan of this album at the time, I can recognize that it does sound a bit dated in some spots and modern fans likely would have trouble digesting some of it. Regardless, Living Large put Hev and his crew on the map and paved the way for even greater things were to come.

Forgotten favorites: “Dedicated,” “The Overweight Lovers in the House,” “Don’t You Know”

4. Waterbed Hev (1997)

Soul in Stereo rating: 4 stars out of 5

Edd said: Here’s a crazy stat: 10 years and five albums after his debut album with The Boyz at his side, we got Waterbed Hev, D’s official solo debut. Although it was technically a new start for Hev, he transitioned seamlessly into this new era of hip-hop. Waterbed Hev keeps the mood sexy thanks to sample heavy records that paid homage to Patrice Rushen, Gap Band, Soul II Soul and more. Although the single “Big Daddy” was a pretty big hit and the project would go gold, competition was fierce in the late 90s and it was quickly drowned out by bigger projects. Personally, it’s probably my favorite Hev album. I worse this thing OUTTTT in 97; it went double platinum in young Edd’s Chevy Cavalier. The title track still makes want to throw on the white linen suit.

Forgotten favorites: “Waterbed Hev,” “Don’t Be Afraid,” “Keep It Comin”

3. Peaceful Journey (1991)

Soul in Stereo rating: 4 stars out of 5

Edd said: Peaceful Journey was Heavy and The Boyz’s first release following the death of Trouble T Roy, a moment that would lead to arguably one of the most poignant songs of all time. But that’s a convo for another time. Peaceful Journey pays homage to T Roy while not veering too far from Hev’s usual formula – getting cozy with the ladies while also uplifting his community. The album leans more into New Jack Swing and jazz more than its predecessor, continuing Hev’s musical progression. Though it’s an album burdened by a heavy loss, Hev’s positivity shines. He’s teaching us to dance through the pain.

Forgotten favorites: “Peaceful Journey,” “Letter to the Future,” “Somebody for Me (Jazz Lover Mix)”

2. Nuttin’ But Love (1994)

Soul in Stereo rating: 4 stars out of 5

Edd said: Hev’s final album with the Boyz is arguably his biggest. Nuttin’ But Love was crammed with radio hits – the title track, “Black Coffee” and of course “Got Me Waiting” and that masterful remix, my favorite Hev track. Anytime Silk is singing on somebody’s song in the 90s, I’m wildin’. After the Blue Funk’s no-frills approach, Nuttin But Love swung the pendulum in the opposite direction – it’s as mainstream as you could get in 94. I have vivid memories of this album getting knocked in the 90s for being too pop (likely due to the rise of harder-edged hip-hop shaping the scene) but Hev always danced on the line of mainstream and street, and when the project sounds this good I’m fine with it. Nuttin But Love is peak of Radio Hev but a few uneven spots keep it from claiming the top spot.

Forgotten favorites: “Something Goin’ On,” “Keep It Goin,” “Take Your Time”

1. Big Tyme (1989)

Soul in Stereo rating: 4 stars out of 5

Edd said: The line between Nuttin But Love and Big Tyme is pretty thin but, in my oh so humble opinion, Big Tyme is the best representation of Hev’s artistry. It’s rooted in the hip-hop fundamentals of Living Large, it has the radio-ready hits of Nuttin But Love while also maintaining the lyrical excellence of Blue Funk. In fact, Big Tyme features Hev at the peak of his lyrical abilities, bending every bar into submission and keeping us dancing along the way.  It’s not often that sophomore projects exceed their predecessors, but Big Tyme was proof that Hev wasn’t just a silly novelty act. He was a true MC, a master entertainer and a legend in the making.

Forgotten favorites: “You Ai’nt Heard Nuttin Yet,” “More Bounce,” “Big Tyme”

Which Hev albums are your favorites? Let us know below.