RAP LEGEND HEAVY D DEAD AT 44

NEW DETAILS: Rapper was alive when cops arrived, cradled by neighbor in the building. Cops say Heavy D weighed 344 pounds at the time of his death yesterday.

Officials recorded Heavy’s height and weight as part of their investigation into his sudden and unexpected passing. We’re told the rapper measured in at 6’4″.

You may remember Heavy famously dropped 135 pounds back in 2003 but insisted the decision to lose weight was in an effort to get acting roles and wasn’t health related.

An autopsy is scheduled to begin Wednesday.

(blackmediaSCOOP) 90′s rapper and actor Dwight Arrington Myers -aka- Heavy D, died Tuesday afternoon at the young age of 44.

A 911 call was placed from Heavy’s Beverly Hills home around 11:25 AM to reports of an unconscious male on the walkway.

Cops arrived to the 400 block of North Maple Drive (below) and found Heavy D after a report that a man in his 40s was unconscious in a walkway near a building, said Beverly Hills Police Lt. Mark Rosen.

But when they arrived, cops say they found Heavy D conscious with difficulty breathing at his home.

Heavy D was rushed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center around 12pacific time ( 3pm eastern) where he was pronounced dead at 1pm pacific (4pm eastern).

Witnesses on the scene tell BMS that Heavy D had just gotten back from shopping and was walking up the stairs when he started having breathing problems.

An unidentified man from the building who knew Heavy D found the rap legend outside against the railing and not doing well.

The young man says he held Heavy D until cops arrived. He says Heavy D was alive and conscious. He kept saying “I can’t breathe”.

Reports speculate that the cause of death may have been a heart attack or pneumonia but an official cause of death has not been confirmed by doctors.

Los Angeles County coroner’s officials said they would be handling the investigation into the cause and manner of the death.

He leaves behind a daughter Xea seen in daddy’s arms on the red carpet for Daddy Day Care’ on May 4, 2003. That’s his niece (Sontenish) on the left.

Dwight Arrington Myers (May 24, 1967 – November 8, 2011), better known as Heavy D, was a Jamaican American actor, rapper, record producer, singer and former leader of Heavy D & the Boyz, a hip hop group which included G-Whiz (Glen Parrish), “Trouble” T. Roy (Troy Dixon), and Eddie F (born Edward Ferrell).

Heavy D & the Boyz had several hits from “Nuttin’ But Love” and “Now That We Found Love” . He also rapped on the theme song from the TV sketch comedy series “In Living Color.”

Heavy D’s last CD, “Love Opus,” was released this year. Click to download.

You may recall a trimmed down version of the rapper just performed at the BET Hip Hop awards show back in October and he looked great!

Heavy D also did his thing recently (October ) at the Michael Jackson Tribute Concert in Wales. He sang “Jam” with La Toya Jackson. Check him out performing MJ’s “JAM” at the 2:55 mark

On Monday night Heavy D sent this tweet out after heavyweight champ Joe Frazier Died -

This was Heavy D’s last tweet to fans just hours before his death:

BE INSPIRED!

11/08/2011 2:29 AM via webReplyRetweetFavorite

@heavyd

HEAVY D

SCOOP: What is your favorite Heavy D song or memory? What will you miss about Heavy D?