Heavy D Remembered By Iconic Producer Pete Rock

Heavy D's death on Tuesday has hit the entire hip-hop community pretty hard, but for Pete Rock, who not only collaborated with Heav, things are difficult.

Still, the legendary hip-hop producer took the time to call in to New York City's Hot 97 morning show on Wednesday (November 9) and spoke with hosts Peter Rosenberg and Cipha Sounds. "Just trying to fathom the thought of all of this, it's very hurtful," Rock said of Heavy D, who was born Dwight Arrington Myers. "This man he gave me everything."

The trailblazing rapper, who rose to fame with his group Heavy D & the Boyz in the late 1980's, died at 44. While the cause of death remains unconfirmed, early police reports say that Heav complained that of having difficulty breathing. After cops responded to a 911 call on Tuesday, a still-conscious Heavy D was transported to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, where he was pronounced dead at 1 p.m. ET.

Pete Rock, who is also Heav's first cousin, told the radio hosts that he was with the rapper/actor just weeks ago and he seemed to be in good health. "It's hard because it's still unbelievable. I didn't expect this to happen this fast, I was just with him a couple of weeks ago," the producer revealed. "I spent the night; he didn't even want me to leave. It's like he didn't want me to go and I laughed at him ... it was crazy."

It was Heavy D who gave the Mount Vernon, New York, producer his start. Mr. Big Stuff's success helped pave the way for Pete Rock to make his mark with rapper C.L. Smooth. On Pete and C.L. Smooth's 1992 album Mecca and the Soul Brother, the duo even paid homage to deceased Heavy D & the Boyz group member Troy Dixon (a.k.a. Trouble T Roy) on their classic single "They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)."

"I felt like he was my guider, my person that just put me in place. He was my #1 believer," Rock said while on the radio. "He was just too good to be true."

The #1 Soul Brother also spoke about the fond memories he shared with his cousin, remarking that their bond was "deeper than music." Pete also noted that the two musicians had completed a song just two weeks ago.

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