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Rapper Heavy D dies after collapsing outside his home

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Hip-hop legend Heavy D died Tuesday afternoon after collapsing on the walkway outside his Beverly Hills home, according to authorities. He was pronounced dead Tuesday in the emergency room at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. It was reported by The Times’ Andrew Blankstein that Heavy D may have died of complications related to pneumonia, authorities said.

Heavy D was 44 years old.

Authorities were called to the 400 block of North Maple Drive about 11:25 a.m. after a report that a man in his 40s had been found unconscious on a walkway near a building, Beverly Hills police Lt. Mark Rosen told L.A. Now. Myers was then transported to a nearby hospital, where he died a short time later.

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Related: Rapper Heavy D dead after collapsing in Beverly Hills

Los Angeles County coroner’s officials told L.A. Now that they would be handling the investigation into the cause and manner of the death.

Rosen did not identify Heavy D as the victim. However, another law enforcement source confirmed to L.A. Now that it was the rapper born Dwight Arrington Myers.

Heavy D had a string of hip-hop and dance hits, starting in 1987, as the then-leader of the hip-hop group Heavy D and the Boyz.

Myers eventually went on to release a number of hits including “Now That We Found Love” in 1991. He also wrote and performed the theme songs for the comedy sketch shows “In Living Color” and “MADtv.”

PHOTOS: Heavy D | 1967-2011

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Myers had a handful of film credits, including “The Cider House Rules,” “Life” and the recently released “Tower Heist.” He can also be seen on recent episodes of “Law & Order SVU” and “Tyler Perry’s House of Payne.”

Myers had just performed at a Michael Jackson tribute concert in Wales on Oct. 8, singing “Jam” with La Toya Jackson. He also recently performed at the BET Hip Hop Awards; you can watch his performance below:

Prolific on Twitter, his last message, which he tweeted earlier Tuesday, read, “BE INSPIRED!”

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