| Product Summary | | Label: Uni/mca | | UPC: 00008811238223 | | Release Date: 9/12/2000 | | Buy.com Sku: 60433487 | | Item#: MR55NK | | Buy.com Sales Rank: 26050 | Format:  CD |
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| Song Listing |  |
(P) 2000 Geffen Records
(C) 2000 MCA Records Inc.
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| | Album Notes and Credits |
Notes & Personnel Info |  | Additional personnel: Aaron Hall, LaVert. | | Includes liner notes by A. Scott Galloway. | | Digitally remastered by Erick Labson (Universal Mastering West, North Hollywood, California). | | Liner Note Author: A. Scott Galloway. | | Photographer: Danny Clinch. | | Heavy Hitz is a near-definitive overview of Heavy D & the Boyz' pop-friendly dance-rap style, featuring not only the group's two big hits -- "We Got Our Own Thang" and the Top Ten "Now That We Found Love" -- but 13 more of their best tracks as well. And that's not as excessive as it might sound to casual observers; Heavy D had not only a good-natured persona and sense of humor, but also a deceptively nimble delivery on the mic, which helps enliven these already infectious party tunes. Heavy D also had a socially conscious side, recording the occasional ode to harmony between genders and races, but that isn't explored very much here; nonetheless, Heavy Hitz will likely be perfectly satisfactory for most listeners. ~ Steve Huey |
Producer: Mike Ragogna; Mike Ragogna (Compilation) |
Musical Guests | | LaVert | | Aaron Hall |
| | Artist Overview | | Known as the "Overweight Lover," Heavy D was also one of hip-hop's original nice guys. The Jamaican-born/New York-raised MC mixed New Jack Swing R&B with old-school skills for an inoffensive, back-in-the-day take on rap. His group, Heavy D & the Boyz, was one of the most popular ensembles of the mid-to-late 1980s, and though, by the dawn of the gangsta rap era, Heavy D's style had fallen somewhat out of fashion, the versatile figure was able to establish himself as both a record industry player at the executive level, and as a reputable film and television actor. He was set to release a new solo album in 2007. |
| | Compilation Appearances |
| | Technical Info | | Release Date : 09/12/2000 | | Original Release Date : 2000 | | Catalog ID : 112382 | | Label : MCA Records (USA) | | Number of Discs : 1 | | Studio/Live : Studio | | Mono/Stereo : Stereo | | SPAR Code : n/a | | UPC : 00008811238223 |
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| | Bio | | It has always been impossible to categorize Heavy D. He pioneered the luxury-loving style we've come to associate with the phrase "Big Willie". In the late eighties, he gave us classic, fun, party records. With Teddy Riley, he is credited with marrying R&B and hip-hop at a time when the two genres were separate and unequal. His chart-topping songs convinced radio programmers and music lovers that rap and radio were indeed two words that could be uttered in the same sentence. He's experimented with so many different rhyme flows that he is rarely associated with any particular style. "In order to have longevity you have to change," explains the three-time Grammy nominee. "But you don't give up on yourself. You can switch things up a bit but still maintain yourself and your dignity." 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 high, and emerged as a hip-hop hero in his neighborhood. Working with his childhood friends the late Trouble T-Roy, G-Wiz and Eddie F, Heavy D & The Boyz came to the attention of then Def Jam Records executive Andre Harrell. In 1986, when Harrell formed Uptown Records, the first act he signed was Heavy D & The Boyz. The group's 1987 debut Livin' Large went gold, and 1989's Big Tyme and 1991's Peaceful Journey were certified platinum. In 1992, the group released the gold album Blue Funk, followed by 1994's platinum-certified Nuttin' But Love. In between albums, Heavy, as VP of A&R of Uptown Records, had a hand in discovering and cultivating the talents of San "Puffy" Combs and the multi-platinum group Joceci. In 1996, Heavy, now working as a solo act released Waterbed Hev, his first CD to be released during his brief, but successful tenure as President Of Uptown Records. While at Uptown, (Heavy resigned the position to concentrate on his music and acting) he signed chart-topping artists Soul For Real and Monifah. "I enjoy having that hand in someone's career," Heavy admits, "but the corporate life just wasn't for me." Over the past few years, Heavy has 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 Drama Desk Award (the equivalent to a Tony Award for Off-Broadway). Since then, Heavy has expanded both his range and his avenues of expression. Not willing to merely play thugs or stereotypical "rapper" parts, Heavy appeared in the Eddie Murphy/Martin Lawrence film, Life and The Cider House Rules, starring Delroy Lindo and Michael Caine. "I just love acting," Heavy 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." Although he's branching out, Heavy D has not abandoned his first passion. He remains one of hip-hop's most admired, respected and committed performers. Ask Heavy D how he feels at this juncture of his career and he's up front. "I am still building my history, but I'm just where I'd like to be right now." Which, is of course right in front of the mike; delivering his patented, yet never predictable brand of hip-hop.
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