The Overweight Lovah's Greatest Hits

Heavy D died on Tuesday at age 44. (Associated Press)

Let's just get the pun out of the way first. I was crushed to hear the news that Heavy D passed away at the tender age of 44 on Tuesday. Reports say he collapsed outside his home in Beverly Hills but it's still not clear how much his 'bounce to the ounce' had to do with it.

Heavy D represented a whole style of hip hop from back in the day. Along with A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, the Jungle Brothers, Queen Latifah, Fresh Prince and DJ Jazzy Jeff among others, he refused to let his rhymes fall into the misogyny and violence trap that so many others did - a trend that plagues mainstream hip hop to this day. He was overweight and allowed it to become part of his image and sex appeal, as did many large emcees: Chubb Rock, the Fat Boys, even Biggie, Fat Joe and Big Pun. But he actually danced. A LOT.

Heavy was also the first rapper-turned record executive, launching the careers of Mary J. Blige and hiring Sean "Diddy" Combs. He popped up on stage, on Queen Latifah's sitcom Living Single and in the Oscar-nominated The Cider House Rules. He actually has a part in just-released Tower Heist. But for me, he will always be the Overweight Lovah who was a big player on the soundtrack of my youth.

Take a trip down memory lane with some of his greatest hits.

Girls They Love Me - 1989

This video takes me back to the late 80s. The giant cell phones, the bright colours, the girls in tight miniskirts, the hairstyles, the best dance moves ever. This song is so deep in my psyche that I found I could rap along to the entire song though I haven't heard it since an old skool hip hop jam a few years ago. Wow.

Somebody For Me - 1989

The beat is catchy and the dancing is HOT. There is so much 'Running Man' in this video that I'm not sure what to do with myself. ALL the old dances are coming back to me now. The Wop, the Cabbage Patch, the Roger Rabbit. Two words: Muscle. Memory. Try it at home! Or even better, at your office desk!

In Living Color - 1990

This sketch comedy show DEFINED the early '90s for me. Not only did it launch the careers of Jim Carrey (back when he was going by James Carrey) and Jennifer Lopez, not to mention the hordes of Wayans who ran the show, but it also brought Heavy D into my living room every week. To this day my entire family can sing Heavy's opening jingle. And giggle at the Men on Film sketches.

Now That We Found Love - 1992

This song is probably Heavy D's biggest mainstream hit. His flow is faster than usual, Heavy and the Boyz are wearing ridiculous shiny rainsuits and insane hats and it makes me love Heavy that much more.

Heavy's Last Performance - 2011

This is a throw-back performance Heavy did at the BET Awards this year - his first in 15 years. It's a huge compilation of hits that will again get you bouncing around with possibly the corniest dance moves ever. Hey, those dancers were probably wearing more clothes than they ever have at ANY BET event EVER. Heavy brought in Tyrese to sing the hooks and danced just as hard as he always did. We'll miss you Waterbed Hev!