- Review

HEAVY D:

HEAVY

A rap fan since the age of 8, Heavy D (who was born Dwight Errington Myers in Jamaica and raised in Mount Vernon, NY started making crude demos by the time he hit junior highschool, and emerged as a hip-hop hero in his neighbourhood. Working with his childhood friends the late Trouble T-Roy, G-Wiz and Eddie F, Heavy D & The Boyz came to attention of then Def Jam Records executive Andre Harrel. In 1986, when Harrel formed Uptown Records, the first act he signed was 'Heavy D & the Boyz.'

The group made it's debut in 1987, with the album called: 'Living large,' which was certified gold. From there on success continued. 1989's 'Big Time' and 1991's 'Peaceful Journey' were certified platinum. In 1992 they released a gold album named 'Blue Funk', followed by the platinum album 'Nuttin' But Love' in 1994. Between these two albums he worked with the talented producer Sean" Puffy" Combs and the multi-platinum group Jodeci. Three years later he came with a solo album called: 'Waterbed Hev', which was certified gold. During this period he was president at Uptown Records (Heavy resigned the position to concentrate on his music and acting). He signed chart-topping artists Soul for Real and Monifa. "I enjoy having that hand in someone's career, but the corporate life just wasn't for me", he says.

The new album 'HEAVY' demonstrates that Heavy has matured and is battle ready. His style hasn't changed a bit. It's still a mix between R&B and Hip-Hop. He enjoys making music, just listen to the first single 'On Point' a pure ballin' and fun track featuring Big Pun and Eightball known as 'The Big Shots.' 'Listen' is a relaxing song which contains dope rhymes featuring Q-Tip. These two rappers also did a song on the album 'Peaceful Journey' named 'Don't Curse'. The first song on the album, 'Like That There' is a personal, full with self expression, bringin' you the message that he's still the same. 'Image That' is a fast groovy song with a relaxing R&B groove.

'You Know' is a track where two rappers with the same style meet each other, Heavy D and Cee-Lo. The track contains clapping beats. It was produced by Heavy's long time partner Tony Dofat, who also produced the bounce- blessed shimmy shake, 'Don't Stop'.
Most of the beats on the album are surely the same. Ecxeptional is the track, "Dancing In The Middle Of The Night." The track is guitar fueled and lyrically poetic.

'Ask Heaven' is a slow and dramatic song featuring the background vocals of Chico DeBarge. It is both a personal and universal tale of loss and regret. It is Heavy' s way of coming to terms with all of the hardship he has known, both before and after becoming famous. In the song he details the experience of loosing his brothers.

Heavy also has an other passion: Acting. Over the past few years he appeared on several tv shows and in 1996, made his New York Off-Broadway debut in the acclaimed one-act play "Riff Raff", which was written and directed by Lawrence Fishburne. For his leading role opposite Fishburne, Heavy earned a nomination for a prestigious Dramma Desk award. Since then, Heavy has expanded both his range and his avenues of expression. Not willing to play thugs or stereotypic all rapper parts, he appears in the Eddie Murphy/ Martin Lawrence film, 'Life' and the forthcoming drama 'The Cider House Rules' starring Delroy Lindo and Michael Caine. "I just love acting," He smiles broadly. "It's something I've always wanted to do and something I work really hard at. I love being able to bring some new aspect of my talent to a different audience."

In 1999 we wil be hearing and seeing a lot more of the famous Heavy D, for whom whe have waited for almost two years.

Eric Oehlers



		HEAVY D: HEAVY A rap fan since the age of 8, Heavy D (who was born Dwight Errington Myers in Jamaica and raised in Mount Vernon, NY started making crude demos by the time he hit junior highschool, and emerged as a hip-hop hero in his neighbourhood. Working with his childhood friends the late Trouble T-Roy, G-Wiz and Eddie F, Heavy D & The Boyz came to attention of then Def Jam Records executive Andre Harrel. In 1986, when Harrel formed Uptown Records, the first act he signed was 'Heavy D & the Boyz.' The group made it's debut in 1987, with the album called: 'Living large,' which was certified gold. From there on success continued. 1989's 'Big Time' and 1991's 'Peaceful Journey' were certified platinum. In 1992 they released a gold album named 'Blue Funk', followed by the platinum album 'Nuttin' But Love' in 1994. Between these two albums he worked with the talented producer Sean" Puffy" Combs and the multi-platinum group Jodeci. Three years later he came with a solo album called: 'Waterbed Hev', which was certified gold. During this period he was president at Uptown Records (Heavy resigned the position to concentrate on his music and acting). He signed chart-topping artists Soul for Real and Monifa. "I enjoy having that hand in someone's career, but the corporate life just wasn't for me", he says. The new album 'HEAVY' demonstrates that Heavy has matured and is battle ready. His style hasn't changed a bit. It's still a mix between R&B and Hip-Hop. He enjoys making music, just listen to the first single 'On Point' a pure ballin' and fun track featuring Big Pun and Eightball known as 'The Big Shots.' 'Listen' is a relaxing song which contains dope rhymes featuring Q-Tip. These two rappers also did a song on the album 'Peaceful Journey' named 'Don't Curse'. The first song on the album, 'Like That There' is a personal, full with self expression, bringin' you the message that he's still the same. 'Image That' is a fast groovy song with a relaxing R&B groove. 'You Know' is a track where two rappers with the same style meet each other, Heavy D and Cee-Lo. The track contains clapping beats. It was produced by Heavy's long time partner Tony Dofat, who also produced the bounce- blessed shimmy shake, 'Don't Stop'. Most of the beats on the album are surely the same. Ecxeptional is the track, "Dancing In The Middle Of The Night." The track is guitar fueled and lyrically poetic. 'Ask Heaven' is a slow and dramatic song featuring the background vocals of Chico DeBarge. It is both a personal and universal tale of loss and regret. It is Heavy' s way of coming to terms with all of the hardship he has known, both before and after becoming famous. In the song he details the experience of loosing his brothers. Heavy also has an other passion: Acting. Over the past few years he appeared on several tv shows and in 1996, made his New York Off-Broadway debut in the acclaimed one-act play "Riff Raff", which was written and directed by Lawrence Fishburne. For his leading role opposite Fishburne, Heavy earned a nomination for a prestigious Dramma Desk award. Since then, Heavy has expanded both his range and his avenues of expression. Not willing to play thugs or stereotypic all rapper parts, he appears in the Eddie Murphy/ Martin Lawrence film, 'Life' and the forthcoming drama 'The Cider House Rules' starring Delroy Lindo and Michael Caine. "I just love acting," He smiles broadly. "It's something I've always wanted to do and something I work really hard at. I love being able to bring some new aspect of my talent to a different audience." In 1999 we wil be hearing and seeing a lot more of the famous Heavy D, for whom whe have waited for almost two years. Eric Oehlers © 1999 ART12/VanderHoek Publishing. All rights reserved.