As hip-hop fans around the world continue to mourn the tragic loss of iconic 90s emcee Heavy D, who passed away on Nov. 8, questions about the rapper’s death continue to grow. Though it was recently revealed that Heavy D was suffering from pneumonia at the time of his death, the rapper’s cousin as well as the Los Angeles County Coroner’s office are now providing more details about his death.
According to the New York Daily News, Ed Winter, assistant chief of the Los Angeles Coroner’s office, claims that Heavy D knew there was something wrong with his health the day before his death.
“He had gone to the doctor the day before,” Winter said. “He had what appeared to be flu-like symptoms.”
The entertainer’s cousin, Ruddy Phillips, supported Winter’s claim, saying that Heavy told him that he was suffering from pneumonia.
“He said he had a touch of pneumonia, maybe from traveling. He [had] just got back from England,” said Phillips.
Heavy D was conscious and talking though experiencing trouble breathing on Tuesday when an ambulance transported him to Cedars Sinai Medical Center at around 11:30 a.m. However, just 90 minutes later, he was pronounced dead.
An autopsy was performed on Nov. 9, but Winter has declined to release any preliminary cause of death, instead wanting to wait until toxicology tests have been completed, due to Heavy D’s numerous medications.
“He was taking medication, so we want to see what the levels were,” Winter said.
Phillips says that he’s concerned for the rapper’s daughter, with whom he was extremely close, as well as Heavy’s mother, who he says is heartbroken over her son’s death.
“He was a really great dad. Everybody is wondering how she’s going to take it now that he’s gone. She loves her dad so much,” Phillips said. “And his mother is taking it really hard. He’s the third brother in the family to die. Everybody is stunned. No one can believe it. He was so young.” –nicholas robinson
