News and Gossip World: Heavy D's Death Hits Nicki Minaj, Usher, More Celebs

Saturday, February 4, 2012

Heavy D's Death Hits Nicki Minaj, Usher, More Celebs

'Truly gone too soon,' Usher tweets Tuesday.
By James Dinh

Heavy D arrives at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards held at the Staples Center on February 8, 2009 in Los Angeles, California
Photo: Frazer Harrison/ Getty Images

<P>Hip-hop lost a rap icon when <a href="/news/articles/1674003/heavy-d-dead.jhtml">Heavy D died</a> Tuesday afternoon (November 8) at age 44, and the music industry is clearly mourning the loss. A string of stars, including <a href="/music/artist/usher/artist.jhtml">Usher</a>, <a href="/music/artist/timbaland/artist.jhtml">Timbaland</a> and <a href="/music/artist/minaj__nicki/artist.jhtml">Nicki Minaj</a>, have shared their memories of the late MC on Twitter. </p><div class="player-placeholder right" id="vid:709301.id:1674015" width="240" height="211"></div><p> Usher offered his sympathy to the family of the Jamaican-born rap heavyweight, <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/UsherRaymondIV/status/134038937709707264" target="_blank">tweeting</a>, "This is too heavy, I can't believe it. HEAVY D was just here. Truly gone too soon. My heart and support goes out to his family. R.I.P HEAVY." Mega-producer Timbaland couldn't even process the announcement, <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/Timbaland/status/134043158483959808" target="_blank">writing</a>, "I'm at a loss for words rip heavy d." After re-tweeting the late-MC's last <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/heavyd/status/133793313668071424" target="_blank">message</a> ("BE INSPIRED"), hip-hop's Harajuku Barbie also weighed in on the news. "We'll never forget you babe! #hiphopelite #RIPHeavyD," Nicki <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/NICKIMINAJ/status/134046872791810048" target="_blank">wrote</a>. From one raptress to the next, Missy Elliott <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/MissyElliott/status/134048022421176321" target="_blank">shared</a> her thoughts: "U will be missed Heavy D so many laughs we've shared but your Music is Timeless and will Always be Around 4ever Love u Heav..." Ciara <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/ciara/status/134042091209752576" target="_blank">described</a> the MC as "a really nice man. Sending my condolences to him and his family!" DJ Drama and Nick Cannon reflected on the icon's impact. "Heavy D 'Who's The Man' was one of my 1st pieces of vinyl when I first started djayin," DJ Drama <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/DJDRAMA/status/134047593767505920" target="_blank">wrote</a>. "Def 1 of the first 5 records I spent $ on. RIP." Cannon said he had "just talked" to Heavy D, <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/NickCannon/status/134045736227713024" target="_blank">adding</a>, "He was just encouraging me about life." "RIP TO A REAL HIP HOP LEGEND HEAVY D!" Nas <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/Nas/status/134036958933549056" target="_blank">chimed</a> in. Juelz Santana <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/thejuelzsantana/status/134049100172754946" target="_blank">recalled</a> the rapper/actor's recent BET Hip Hop Awards performance. "RIP Heavy D. He was a Hip Hop Legend," he shared. "Crazy how sh-- happens. I was late 2 da BET Awards & Heavy D's Performance was 1 of da only 2 I got 2 see. Blessed 4 dat opportunity. RIP." Boyz II Men, who shared the '90s spotlight with the MC, <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/BoyzIIMen/status/134038232487825408" target="_blank">sent</a> condolences to his family, writing, "UGH...heavy d..always cool as hell with us..just a sick feeling....praying for his little daughter and family." <a href="https://www.facebook.com/#!/mtvnews/posts/239786012747833" target="_blank"><big>Share your memories of Heavy D on Facebook.</big></a> <center><object width="451" height="279" id="kickWidget_176704_495694" name="kickWidget_176704_495694" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://serve.a-widget.com/service/getWidgetSwf.kickAction">  <param name="movie" value="http://serve.a-widget.com/service/getWidgetSwf.kickAction"></param> <param name="FlashVars" value="affiliateSiteId=176704&widgetId=495694&width=451&height=279&autoPlay=0&playOnLoad=0&js=1&revision=110&mediaURL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bet.com%2Fcontent%2Fbetcom%2Fvideo%2Fhiphopawards%2F2011%2Fperformances%2Fhha-perf-heavyd-s1%2F_jcr_content%2Fleftcol%2Fvideoplayer.mrss" ></param> <param name="wmode" value="transparent" ></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" ></param> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" ></param> </object></center></p>

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