It was only a couple of months ago that I found out Heavy D passed away at the age of 44. I was truly saddened by this news as I've been a fan of his music since his arrival on the scene in the early 90's. There are so many positive things to say about Heavy D (aka Dwight Meyers), that it's hard to know where to begin. Well, here's a start......in the world of hip hop, you'd be hard-pressed to find anyone who could swing as hard as Heavy D. His rhythm and rhyming skills are unmatched. On top of that, he kept it clean with regard to language and had the respect of many notable artists in hip hop, R &B, pop, and film (Spike Lee, Queen Latifah, Martin Lawrence, LL Cool J, Mary J. Blige and many others). Just watching his videos was enough to convey the positive, feel-good energy that was a trademark of his sound.
I've always believed that hip-hop, at its best, represented the sequel to Be-bop in its swinging feel and social commentary. Be-bop was a social / musical reaction to the music happening at the time (swing) and was developed / performed by predominantly black artists. I'm including a couple of links to his tunes that are sure to bring a smile. Thank God for artists like Heavy D......keeping it swinging and keeping it real!
Take Your Time:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIzot8WVxj4
Is it Good to You:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RZUuw5m6UM
