Heavy D. & the Boyz was an American hip hop group led by 250 lb (113 kg) Heavy D. (born Dwight Errington Myers on May 24, 1967 in Jamaica, his family moved to Mount Vernon, New York when he was a young child. . He is known for his wild boastings about his sexual failings. He maintained a sizable audience through most of the 1990s.
Heavy D. & the Boyz were the first group signed to Uptown Records; their debut, Living Large, was released in 1987 (see 1987 in music). The album was a commercial success, though Big Tyme (1989, 1989 in music) was a breakthrough that included four hits. One of the Boyz, Trouble T-Roy, died in a stage accident in 1990 (see 1990 in music), which led to a tribute on the follow-up platinum album, Peaceful Journey (1991, 1991 in music). Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth created a tribute to Trouble T-Roy called "They Reminisce Over You" which is regarded as a hip-hop classic.
Heavy D. soon gained fans by appearing in the theme song for In Living Color. His next album, however, Blue Funk, was a critical and commercial failure compared to his previous success. Heavy D then began focusing on his acting, appearing in Roc and Living Single before returning the music charts with Nuttin' But Love (1994, 1994 in music). After appearing in the off-Broadway play Riff Raff at Circle Repertory Company, Heavy D returned to recording with the hit Waterbed Hev. He then acted in Life and The Cider House Rules before joining the cast of Boston Public. A new album is slated for 2006.
