Marley Marl: Heavy D Tribute Mix For WBLS

DJ Marley Marl posted this mix on his Soundcloud page a few days ago that's a tribute mix to the legendary Heavy D. Be sure to share this with friends as we salute the works and life of a great Hip-Hop artist who influenced and helped nurture the careers of many. Enjoy!

Farewell Heavy D

Heavy D
(May 24, 1967 – November 8, 2011)
We bid farewell to another young legend in Hip-Hop. Dwight Arrington Myers, better known as Heavy D passed away earlier today after collapsing outside of his Beverly Hills home. Heavy D started his career with Uptown Records in New York City. Later doing the theme songs for both In Living Color and MADtv television series. He also had recurring roles on other tv shows and played small roles in several movies. His last performance was recently on the BET Music Awards and his last movie appearance was Tower Heist with Eddie Murphy and Ben Stiller. Our deepest condolences to his family and close friends. May he rest in power!

Happy Birthday: Mary J. Blige & LL Cool J

Mary J. Blige (born January 11, 1971), The Queen of Hip-Hop Soul, and The Queen of R&B, is a singer, producer, songwriter, actress, and rapper. A recipient of 9 Grammy Awards and 4 American Music Awards, Blige has recorded eight multi-platinum albums and has received the World Music Legends Award for combining Hip-Hop and Soul in the early 1990s. In November of 2010, Billboard Magazine ranked Blige as the most successful female R&B artist of the past 25 years, she ranked number two (overall) ahead of Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey, and Whitney Houston.

Blige started her musical career in 1992, releasing her multi-platinum US selling debut album, What's the 411? on MCA Records and Uptown. What's the 411? gave Blige her first Billboard 200 top ten album, which has continued since the release of her debut album until her latest album, Stronger with Each Tear (2009), which became Blige's seventh consecutive album to debut at number one or number two on the Billboard 200. As of 2010, Blige has sold over 50 million albums and 15 million singles. Blige cites Anita Baker, Chaka Khan, Teena Marie, and Aretha Franklin as influences.



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James Todd Smith (born January 14, 1968), better known as LL Cool J (acronym for Ladies Love Cool James) is an American rapper and actor. He is known for romantic ballads such as "I Need Love", "Around the Way Girl" and "Hey Lover" as well as pioneering hip-hop such as "I Can't Live Without My Radio", "I'm Bad", "The Boomin' System", and "Mama Said Knock You Out". He has released twelve studio albums and two greatest hits compilations, with his final album being 2008's Exit 13, the last for his record deal with Def Jam Recordings. He has also appeared in numerous films, and currently stars as NCIS Special Agent Sam Hanna on the CBS crime drama television series NCIS: Los Angeles.

LL Cool J founded and launched Boomdizzle.com, a record label / social networking site launched in September 2008. The website accepts music uploads from aspiring artists, primarily from the hip hop genre, and the site's users rate songs through contests, voting, and other community events.