Heavy D’s death in November 2011 at age 44 was sudden and surprising, but BET’s Centric network has already sprung into action with a documentary celebrating the late MC’s life. Be Inspired: The Life of Heavy D, premiered Sunday Februar, 26th 2011, contains interviews with Will Smith, Queen Latifah and Mary J. Blige as well as childhood friends like Al B. Sure and Eddie F, and also random associates like Malcolm Jamal-Warner, and Heavy’s parents, Clifford and Eulah Lee Myers, and is narrated by MC Lyte. Good to see that the bio makes some mention of the Mayor of Mount Vernon’s Jamaican roots and his role as a pioneer in blending hip-hop and dancehall (you can get the lowdown on all that and then some in our Heds and Dreds retrospective on the Big Belly Gorgon) as well as his more heralded role as, arguably, the first MC to successfully blend rap with R&B and pop without losing the streets’ love and respect.
For more and to watch the documentary...
I myself knew Heavy was from JA, but did not know he's from Mandeville, Jamaica...where my family is also from, and most of my family now resides in Mount Vernon; same footprints...interesting!
I really enjoyed Large Up web site, and you can get the latest in music from the Jamaican perspective. You can read their full article on the Heavy D documentary here
Watch the entire 40-minute program here...
