Chris McKay / Getty Images 
 
 Rapper Heavy D, 44, who made his reputation as a chubby but suave lyricist as frontman of Heavy D and the Boyz, dubbing himself the “overweight lover” in the early ‘9os with hits like “We Got Our Own Thang” and “Gyrlz They Love Me,” died Tuesday, TMZ reported. 
 
 TMZ reported that a 911 call was placed from his home in Beverly Hills, Calif., reporting an unconscious male found on the walkway around 11:25 a.m. When help arrived, Heavy was conscious and speaking. But he was taken to a nearby hospital and pronounced dead at 1 p.m. 
 
 (MORE: Top 10 Unsolved Hip Hop Murders) 
 
 Born in Jamaica in 1967, Dwight Arrington Myers emigrated to the United States with his family and moved to Mount Vernon, N.Y., according to a published biography. He began putting together rap lyrics as early as age 8 and as a teenager formed the rap group the Boyz, with Eddie (DJ Eddie F) Ferrell; Troy (Trouble T-Roy) Dixon; and Glen (G-Wiz) Parrish. In 1986, the group signed with Uptown Records under music mogul Andre Harrell and released their first album “Living Large” in 1987, featuring breakout hist “The Overweight Lover’s in the House” and “Mr. Big Stuff.” 
 
 In 1989, becoming part of the burgeoning “Jack Swing” sound in R&B, the group released Big Tyme featuring “Somebody for Me,” and went certified platinum. But on the album’s tour, Dixon was killed in a stage accident, becoming the subject of the titular track on the group’s next album Peaceful Journey in 1991. 
 
 Heavy went on to rap the theme song for each season of the FOX network’s variety show In Living Color and made recurring appearances on its hit shows Roc and Living Single. He continued his rap career with several platinum albums through the ’90s as well as with roles in films like The Cider House Rules and the Eddie Murphy comedy Life. 
 
 Rediscovering his Jamaican roots, Heavy released Vibes in 2008, charting with “Long Distance Girlfriend.” “Reggae’s the first music I ever experienced,” he told HipHopRX.com in 2008. “I’ve always mixed reggae and hip hop. But I came to a point where I felt I had put the exclamation mark on my hip hop career. I’m fortunate that I’ve been able to transfer the love, respect and passion I have for hip hop and reggae into my latest musical endeavor.” 
 
 The cause of Heavy’s death remains unclear, but police said there is no evidence of foul play. 
 
 Though his death was sudden and unexpected, Heavy’s final message may have been two words sent through his Twitter account: “Be Inspired.” 
 
 MORE: Remembering Nate Dogg, Hip-Hop’s Harmonizing Pioneer ||||| Heavy D, the self-proclaimed "overweight lover" of hip-hop who became one of rap's top hit-makers with wit, humor and a positive vibe, has died. He was 44. Andrew Weitz of William Morris Endeavor Entertainment confirmed the rapper's death in Los Angeles in an email Tuesday, without giving a cause of death or saying where he died. Weitz declined to provide further details on Heavy D's death. 
 
 In this Oct. 1, 2011 photo, rapper Heavy D, also known as Dwight Arrington Myers, performs during the BET Hip Hop Awards in Atlanta. A representative confirmed Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2011 that the singer and... (Associated Press) 
 
 FILE - In this Feb. 8, 2009 file photo, rapper Heavy D, born Dwight Arrington Myers, performs at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. A representative confirmed Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2011 that the... (Associated Press) 
 
 In this Oct. 1, 2011 photo, rapper Heavy D, also known as Dwight Arrington Myers, performs during the BET Hip Hop Awards in Atlanta. A representative confirmed Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2011 that the singer and... (Associated Press) 
 
 FILE - In this Feb. 8, 2009 file photo, rapper Heavy D, also known as Dwight Arrington Myers, arrives at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. A representative confirmed Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2011... (Associated Press) 
 
 Dwight Arrington Myers, the rapper known as Heavy D of Heavy D and the Boyz, and his crew released their debut album "Living Large" in 1987. Their hits included "Now That We Found Love," "Who's the Man" and "Somebody For Me." 
 
 The New York-born rapper was one of the genre's most integral stars in the last 1980s and early 1990s, as it relied on new voices and star power to fuel its phenomenal growth in the mainstream. 
 
 The deep-voiced rapper's earliest hit, "The Overweight Lover's in the House," played up his hefty frame. But while that nickname would stick, his weight did not become part of his shtick, like the Fat Boys. What drew people to his music was his singular style, which celebrated an easygoing, party vibe _ sometimes humorous, sometimes inspiring and almost always positive. 
 
 In the mid-1990s, Heavy D became president of Uptown Records, the label that released most of his albums and was also the home to acts like Mary J. Blige and Jodeci. He also created the theme songs for sketch comedy shows "In Living Color" and "MADtv" and acted on the TV shows "Boston Public" and "The Tracy Morgan Show," as well as in the films "Life" and "Step Up. 
 
 Combined with the fusion of the "New Jack Swing" musical style, Heavy D was a constant presence on the charts, and also a go-to figure for several performers. He collaborated with such artists as Michael Jackson on the 1991 single "Jam" and the 1997 duet "Keep It Coming" with B.B. King. 
 
 His latest album, "Love Opus," was released in September, and he performed a medley of his past hits at the 2011 BET Hip Hop Awards last month. 
 
 He also had a cameo appearance in the new movie "Tower Heist," starring Eddie Murphy and Ben Stiller. 
 
 ___ 
 
 AP Music Writer Nekesa Mumbi Moody continued to this report. ||||| With the sudden passing of Heavy D today in Los Angeles, the Hip-Hop community is heartbroken over the loss of one of its crown jewels. Heavy D, real name Dwight Arrington Myers, was rushed to an L.A. hospital around noon today and was pronounced dead at 1 p.m. While many new Hip-Hop heads don’t remember much of Heavy’s material, there’s an army of folks who grew up on songs like “Now That We Found Love”and “Nothing But Love.” He was born May 24, 1967 and died November 8, 2011. Here’s a list of 10 facts you didn’t know about Heavy D. 
 
 10. Jamaican Man 
 
 While many know that Heavy D was a Mount Vernon resident, he was actually born in Jamaica in 1967 to a nurse and a machine technician. 
 
 9. The Big Screen 
 
 Heavy D was sure known for being a big fellow, but many forget how many big screen appearances he made. He’s been in 24 movies and most recently, the new Eddie Murphy and Ben Stiller movie, Tower Heist. 
 
 8. Jack Of All Trades 
 
 Heavy D initially came into the Hip-Hop game as a member of the group, “Heavy D & The Boyz.” He was producing for the group while at the same time rapping. He later moved into acting and built a successful career out of that. 
 
 7. Seven Albums 
 
 Heavy D’s first album Living Large dropped in 1987. Since then, he’s done six more studio albums which was supposed to end with Love Opus sometime this year. Here are the rest of his albums and their release dates — Big Tyme (1989), Peaceful Journey (1991), Blue Funk (1993), Nuttin’ But Love (1994), Waterbed Hev (1997), and Heavy (1999). 
 
 6. Uptown Records 
 
 Heavy D became the first signed artist under famed record mogul Andre Harrell’s label, Uptown Records. 
 
 5. Quench Your Thirst! 
 
 Many Hip-Hop fans noticed that rapper Drake did a Sprite commercial a few years ago. But many don’t know that Heavy D actually starred in a Sprite commercial back in 1990 rocking a bright yellow and green ensemble. He paved the way. 
 
 4. Theme Song 
 
 Heavy D & The Boyz did the theme song for the popular 90s show In Living Color 
 
 3. Jay-Z Who? 
 
 Many say that Jay-Z was the first rapper to become a president of a record label with Def Jam. But Heavy D has dibs on that claim before anyone as he became the president of Uptown Records in 1996. 
 
 2. First Movie Role 
 
 Heavy D became one of the first rapper turned actors in 1990 when he appeared in the movie “Be Cool.” 
 
 1. Last Performance 
 
 Heavy D recently performed at the BET Hip-Hop Awards in Atlanta this past October. It was his first and last performance in 15 years. 
 
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– Rapper Heavy D, one of the biggest rap stars of the late 1980s and early '90s, is dead at age 44, reports TMZ. A friend says he had pneumonia, and the rapper apparently began having trouble breathing on the stairs leading to his Beverly Hills apartment building. Born Dwight Arrington Myers, Heavy D and his group released their first album, Living Large, in 1987, notes AP. One of his breakout hits was The Overweight Lover's in the House. Time has more on his role in the "Jack Swing" style of R&B. (Click to read 10 facts you might not know about Heavy D.)