As family, friends and hip-hop’s fellow artists, pioneers and journalists gave their last farewell’s to the self-proclaimed ‘Overweight Lover’ this past Friday, VIBE continues to remember the legendary hip-hop performer, known to the masses as Heavy D. We took time to dig through the crates of the VIBE vault and highlighted a few notable Heavy D features and quotes.
Starting in our September 1993 issue, Hev gave Diddy — known as Puffy back then — his props on his musical ear and A&R talents and blunt opinions.He also gave words of wisdom to Queen Latiah, talked about Michael Jackson and more. –Shabazz
Heavy D on Puffy
September 1993 Issue
Heavy D keeps it real with Diddy back in ’93
“Slowly yet surely realizing that what he has a gift. In my opinion, Puffy was responsible for Father MC, Mary J. Blige, and Jodeci. Especially Jodeci. You gotta remember that they had a record out before, and they only blew up when Puffy got in the loop. But Puffy has to realize that that gift ain’t for him. It’s for other people.”
November 1994 Issue
C.L. talks advice given to him by Heavy D
“The best advice Heavy D ever gave me as a writer was never to force my work, “he says. “Go for a drive, clear your mind, and then come back to the words. If one forces the process, it comes out fake. And to me, there’s nothing worse than being fake.”
December 1996/January 1997 Issue
Advice to Queen Latifah
“There’s something about being any kind of entertainer that is acting. You have to put on a show. Things you wouldn’t do in your life, you do on stage. You have to let go. And that’s extra hard for rappers. We have a tendency to, quote, unquote, keep it real. As an actor, you have to be able to humiliate yourself. Do whatever it takes.”
June/July 1995 Issue
Heavy talks Michael Jackson
His pre-noted thoughts on the Michael Jackson collaboration before the ’91 Dangerous “Jam” record. “I was in California the first time I heard Michael Jackson wanted to record with me. I was, like, Nah, no way, he’s too big, it can’t be true. Then I got a call from Michael’s people at my hotel telling me he was interested. But I still wasn’t believeing it- I thought they were setting me up for a TV practical jokes show. So me and my partner go to the place, and while we were waiting we were talking and cursing up a storm- I was thinking if it was a blooper show, they wouldn’t be able to use it. Then Michael called and said he was on his way. Michael’s just as regular as everyone else. We talked about all the normal stuff guys talk about. He’s real smart. People forget that he’s the most incredible entertainer we’ve seen in our lifetime. His name is Michael Jackson, not Super Michael Jackson. He makes mistakes just like all of us.
