#overweight lover

Homie was smooth though. Respect, RIP Heavy

My interaction with Heavy D is probably a little different. You see although I have this undying love for Hip Hop culture, the overweight lover has never graced my itunes. But, knowing that he trailblazed a culture that has surpassed the realm of just music has always been of utmost respect.

It is no secret that I have been thick, chunky, big-boned, heavy-set for all of my life. So my first encounter with the spirit of Heavy D, was not hearing “Now that we found love” on my Princess Jazmine themed boom box, but rather from a little nappy headed boy on the play ground.

“Yo! I want Heavy D on my team”

It was no secret that during recess you’d catch me on the field rather than standing on the wall with prissy little girls. Although, short and stout, I was a runner. Everyone knew that I could keep up with the fastest boys in 5th grade, and if you caught me on a good day, sometimes even beat them all.

But, this new nickname stung in a place I didn’t realize existed.

Sure, I had been called Deion Sanders (I lived in Dallas during this time), but HEAVY D! Man… and I guess everyone knew exactly who he was, as they laughed and did one of his memorable dances. As his first pick I tried to hold my head high and walk reluctantly to his side as I shot back,

“Oh yea, but I can outrun any of you fools, heavy or not”

 I went home and told my older brother who finally enlightened me about who Heavy D was. Of course the way he explained him to me was showing his cameo in my all-time favorite movie “B.A.P.S”.

Thank God! The nickname Heavy D didn’t stick past that gruesome day on the playground. But, his memory and influence on generation after generation was evident even with kids my age.

Hip Hop has lost a pioneer. He didn’t care about being hard and gangsta, he said many times that he just wanted everyone to like him.  The romantic teddy bear, whose loved themed songs made an outlet for other softer Hip Hop legends.

RIP Heavy, the way I was exposed to the essence of you hurt like hell. But, I wouldn’t have had it any other way.