Snoop Dogg and Queen Latifah are in agreeance with Pete Rock that Heavy D & The Boyz deserve more recognition in Hip Hop 50 celebrations for their massive contributions to the culture.
The legendary producer took to Instagram on Tuesday (July 11) to issue a strongly-worded P.S.A. about his late cousin’s lack of inclusion in the 50th anniversary tributes that have been thrown by various networks, companies and institutions this year.
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“I respect absolutely NONE of this talk about 50 years of hip Hop that does not include HEAVY D and the Boyz,” Rock wrote underneath a photo of Hev. “He KICKED DOWN the door and paved a way for A LOT OF MOTHERFUCKERS!! I think his smoothness and humbleness makes people forget his impact and relevance in the music business.”
He continued: “I NEED EVERY ONE WHO AGREES ( ESPECIALLY EVERYBODY FOR MONEY EARNING MOUNT VERNON!!) TO REPOST AND SHARE SO WE CAN GET HEV A PROPER TELEVISED TRIBUTE for his achievements and contributions to the game. #HeavyD RIP DWIGHT MYERS.”
Numerous rap legends and cultural icons flooded Pete Rock’s comments section with their approval, with Snoop simply writing: “Facts. Big. Tyme.”
Latifah added: “Heav was my friend. Put us on his tour and showed us what rocking a crowd was About!!! Love to him his family and his Whole Crew!!!!”
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Kool DJ Red Alert, Easy Mo Bee, Marlon Wayans and Omari Hardwick also co-signed Pete Rock’s claims.
“I Always Keep Him in Rotation, He Appeal Big Time To A Mass Audience,” Red Alert wrote, while Mo Bee added: “100% approved post #RIPHeavyD” and Wayans said: “I concur.”
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“As special as they come!” Hardwick wrote. “Who happened to be a dear bro of mine like yourself. And who btw….was 1 of the few hip hop artists who could equally bring that gift to screen. A very strong actor.”
He added: “I also agree with you my brother … that folk (especially in our culture) who make things look easy while equally possessing humility….usually get overlooked & undervalued. Heav was special & i know he’s smiling with pride & humility at this powerful post from you Rock!”
Heavy D (real name Dwight Myers) was a Jamaican-born rapper, producer and actor. As the leader of Heavy D & The Boyz — which also included G-Whiz, “Trouble” T. Roy and DJ Eddie F — the group dropped five critically-acclaimed albums between 1987 and 1994 before Heavy embarked on a successful solo career.
He broke through to the mainstream after appearing on Janet Jackson’s “Alright” in 1989, which peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and served as one of the earliest examples of rappers appearing on pop songs. Heavy D then linked up with Michael Jackson in 1992 for a remix of his single “Jam.”
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Heavy D also appeared in multiple TV shows and movies, and most notably sang the theme song for MADtv and In Living Color.
Heavy D’s final show was with Eddie F at the 2011 BET Hip Hop Awards in 2011, which marked the pair’s first live televised performance together in 15 years.
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He died shortly after on November 8, 2011, at the age of 44 after collapsing outside his home in Beverly Hills. An autopsy revealed the cause of death was a pulmonary embolism (PE) caused by a blood clot in a leg.
