Rapper Heavy D dies at 44

Heavy D, the Jamaican-American rapper and actor known for his wit, humour and positive vibe, has died at age 44.

Lt. Mark Rosen of the Beverly Hills police said Heavy D died in a Los Angeles hospital Tuesday after collapsing at his condominium building in Beverly Hills.

Rosen said police were sent to the building Tuesday morning after receiving a report of an unconscious person lying on the walkway. They found Heavy D conscious and communicative but with difficulty breathing. He was transported to Cedars Sinai Medical Center, where he later died.

Rosen said Beverly Hills detectives found no signs of foul play.

Andrew Weitz of William Morris Endeavor Entertainment confirmed the rapper's death in Los Angeles on Tuesday, but did not give a cause or details of the death.

He had just performed at two special events last month: the Michael Jackson tribute concert in Wales and the BET Hip Hop Awards in Atlanta. He also has a minor role in the new Eddie Murphy comedy Tower Heist.

Heavy D, whose real name was Dwight Arrington Myers, found fame with his 1991 hit Now That We Found Love.

The rapper, who called himself "overweight lover,"released his debut album Living Large in 1987 with the group he fronted, Heavy D and the Boyz. Their hits included Who's the Man and Somebody For Me; they also sang the theme songs for the sketch comedy shows In Living Color and MADtv.

Heavy D collaborated with Michael Jackson on the 1991 single Jam and with B.B. King on the 1997 duet Keep It Coming. He also had screen roles in Bones, Boston Public, The Tracy Morgan Show and Cider House Rules.

In the mid-1990s, Heavy D became president of Uptown Records, a label that is home to acts including Mary J. Blige and Jodeci. His latest album, Love Opus, was released in September.