There was once a time in music when the word “legend” was thrown around like thin, multicolored double dutch ropes on a warm Sunday. Everyone bestowed the word— which has become waterless, easily digestible, and as familiar as a catchphrase. And really, what makes a legend? Is it the effortless embodiment of a particular thing? The longevity? Impact? A body of work that boasts powerful praise?
Though this is an endless argument, many involved in the “old and new” world of the culture we call hip-hop will easily stand up and say that not many can wear the crown of a legend… But then, Hev: a rapper, producer, actor, businessman, dancer, tastemaker and artistic genius is hands down the epitome of such praise.
“He's the classiest person in hip hop ever,” radio host Ed Lover once said.
Known in the late ’80s and early ’90s as the star of Heavy D & the Boyz, Hev, the 250-pound, lovable emcee has managed to remain relevant after parlaying an illustrious solo career, acting career and influential roles as a label executive.
Born Dwight Errington Myers in Jamaica in 1967, Hev was raised by Eulahlee Myers, a nurse, and Clifford Vincent Myers, a movieola tech. When he was 4, his parents moved to the Bronx, New York and Mount Vernon four years later where Hev eventually became the big kid in class, not just for his commanding physical presence, but popularity with the ladies. In junior high school, Hev - always a ringleader- was making his own rap demo tapes. By the ninth grade he’d dropped out of school and was introduced to G-Wiz (born Glen Parrish) and popular DJ, Eddie F (born Eddie Ferrell) by his best friend since third grade, Troy Dixon a.k.a. Trouble T-Roy, who met Eddie and Glen through the New York party scene. The four formed a rap group called Heavy D & the Boyz.
Their demo tape fell into the hands of legendary Uptown Records founder Andre Harrell, and in 1986 Heavy D & the Boyz became the first artists signed to Uptown. Their 1987 debut Living Large, featured the classics “Mr. Big Stuff,” and “The Overweight Lover’s in the House,” and became a major crossover hit. Large solidified Hev as the first hefty male heartthrob in hip-hop, who was known as much for his suggestively sweet and respectful lyrics towards women, as his slick dance routines.
Though Living Large was well-received and went gold, the group’s second effort, Big Tyme, which featured the hits “Somebody for Me,” and “We Got Our Own Thang,” became a platinum phenomenon. It also took Hev out the arena of being seen as just a tenderhearted, lovable emcee, and into the conscious fold of a skilled songwriter and versatile superstar who could touch all genres of pop music.
Heavy D & the Boyz went on to release three more successful albums, including 1991’s platinum-selling Peaceful Journey, which was dedicated to the tragic lost of Boyz member Trouble T-Roy and Hev’s brother Tony. The album was named by Hev’s other brother Jerry, who passed away a few years after its release.
By 1995, Hev - looking for a fresh start - became one of the first rap artists to head a major label after accepting a prestigious offer to take over as president of Uptown Records. This spawned the careers of everyone from Mary J. Blige and Jodeci (whom Hev convinced Andre Harrell to sign), to a young A&R exec named Sean “P. Diddy” Combs who Hev hired. During his tenure, he signed R&B star Monifah, and the group Soul For Real of the hit 1995 single, “Candy Rain.”
But after awhile, Hev began to miss his true passion: discovering and developing new talent. So in 1997, Hev moved on from Uptown to become Senior Vice President of Universal Records, where his focus became scouting and nourishing the careers of new hip-hop, pop, and R&B acts.
That same year, he dropped his first solo album, the Uptown/Universal LP Waterbed Hev, which featured one of the biggest West Coast rap duos of that time, Tha Dogg Pound. The album turned out to be an R&B-flavored success that was hard enough for the streets, and relevant enough for a new generation of hip-hop heads. He soon followed up with 1999’s Heavy.
Around this time, Hev was also raising eyebrows for his various acting roles. Though he was a regular face on the popular ’90s sitcoms Roc (Calvin Hendricks) and Living Single (Darryl), he won the hearts of critics in 1995 when he starred in the Laurence Fishburne-directed off-Broadway play Riff Raff, which earned him a prestigious Drama Desk Award nomination.
Hev went on to appear in several films including 1995’s New Jersey Drive (Bo-Kane) Life (Jake, 1999) and The Cider House Rules (Peaches, 1999), which went on to win two Academy Awards. By 2000, Hev had a recurring role as Big Boy on the Emmy-award winning television drama Boston Public.
In 2002, he co-starred in the comedy Big Trouble, as FBI Agent Pat Greer. The film, directed by the legendary Barry Sonnenfeld - whose film credits include Get Shorty (1995) and Men in Black II (2002) - also starred Tim Allen, Rene Russo, Omar Epps, and Tom Sizemore.
In 2006, Hev was honored with a “NAACP Spirit Award” for his riveting starring role as Dale “D.J.” Jackson, a Vietnam veteran in the Will Smith executive produced and Delroy Lindo directed play Medal of Honor Rag.
But never straying too far from his rap roots, Hev kept busy with an impressive catalog of production work ranging from Jay-Z’s “Guns & Roses” off 2003’s The Blueprint 2.1, Timbaland & Magoo’s “I Got Luv 4 Ya” from their album Under Construction, Pt. II (2003), and Beanie Sigel’s critically-acclaimed “Feel It In The Air” off 2005’s The B. Coming, to name a few.
Now Hev’s back with his highly anticipated reggae album Vibes. Though it’s been a long time coming, this time Hev’s heading back to his deeply carved Caribbean/reggae roots.
“It’s really the first music I've ever experienced,” says the now 41-year-old, who has collaborated with reggae legends such as Super Cat, Buju Banton, Josey Wales and Robert French to name a few. “I feel excited again, like I'm doing something for the first time! I feel like I can give the people something with passion and quality.”
Hev, who has been blending hip-hop with reggae for years, started working on Vibes five years ago, perfecting it in secret. One of his favorite tracks on the album, “Delilah,” is close to nine years old. The overall result is a squeaky clean reflection of Hev’s growth, and unlike his past dance routine days, he feels no pressure to attempt to keep up with his legend in hip-hop.
“I didn't want to disrespect the hip hop culture by doing a hip hop album with half the passion,” he says. “I truly believe that I've given my best to rap music. Anything more would be less than stellar culture. The people deserve better. My spirit was leaning more towards my roots.”
Vibes will feature reggae heavyweights Sizzla and Barrington Levy. The first single, “Long Distance Girlfriend,” is a steady-tempo, horn heavy rhythmic track that landed on every major music website and blog it’s first day of release. The album is set to drop September 2008 under Hev’s label Stride Records (Universal).
In regards to the timing, Hev is cool on that…besides, what legend wouldn’t be?
“The timing chose me,” he says matter-of-factly, “I didn't choose it.”
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According to the Will Of God, some are house wives, step dads, baby mamas, single fathers, single, disabled, unemployed, Pastor, on the praise team, laid off, married, divorced, whatever it takes to conform you into the image of the Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, please Father give us wisdom, direction, understanding and knowledge, this day You have made, help us, as we humble our all, to You, we cant do it without You.(Matthew5: 7And when you pray, do not heap up phrases (multiply words, repeating the same ones over and over) as the Gentiles do, for they think they will be heard for their much speaking. 8Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.9Pray, therefore, like this: Our Father Who is in heaven, hallowed (kept holy) be Your name.10Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11Give us this day our daily bread. 12And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven (left, remitted, and let go of the debts, and have given up resentment against) our debtors. 13And lead (bring) us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. 14For if you forgive people their trespasses [their reckless and willful sins, leaving them, letting them go, and giving up resentment], your heavenly Father will also forgive you.15But if you do not forgive others their trespasses [their reckless and willful sins, leaving them, letting them go, and giving up resentment], neither will your Father forgive you your trespasses. John 1: 1IN THE beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself. 2He was present originally with God. 3All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him was not even one thing made that has come into being. 4In Him was Life, and the Life was the Light of men. 5And the Light shines on in the darkness, for the darkness has never overpowered it [put it out or absorbed it or appropriated it, and is unreceptive to it
When a man's ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. HOLY SPIRIT our Helper, please help, strengthen, direct, instruct, & guide us & our loved ones this day our Father has made. Father we ask for Your Grace, Mercy, & Comfort to those families that lost loved ones. Thank You for all that You do for us,& deliverance, please continue to shape, mold, & form us into the image of our Redeemer Jesus Christ, as this weekend starts, please help us to have patience, forgiveness, & peace with one another, also help us to flee every form of evil, for we know that those who do so, bring cursing, worry, stress, harm & even death to themselves, others even sometimes loved ones, lead & order our steps according to Your Will, for we were bought with a price and shouldn’t use our bodies to have sex outside of marriage, get drunk, steal, or speak as fools, help us to honor You in mind, body & soul, we cant do it without You.1 Corinthians 6: 9 Do you not know that the unrighteous and the wrongdoers will not inherit or have any share in the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived (misled): neither the impure and immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor those who participate in homosexuality, 10 Nor cheats (swindlers and thieves), nor greedy graspers, nor drunkards, nor foulmouthed revilers and slanderers, nor extortioners and robbers will inherit or have any share in the kingdom of God. 11 And such some of you were [once]. But you were washed clean (purified by a complete atonement for sin and made free from the guilt of sin), and you were consecrated (set apart, hallowed), and you were justified [pronounced righteous, by trusting] in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the [Holy] Spirit of our God. 12 Everything is permissible (allowable and lawful) for me; but not all things are helpful (good for me to do, expedient and profitable when considered with other things). Everything is lawful for me, but I will not become the slave of anything or be brought under its power. 13 Food [is intended] for the stomach and the stomach for food, but God will finally end [the functions of] both and bring them to nothing. The body is not intended for sexual immorality, but [is intended] for the Lord, and the Lord [is intended] for the body [ to save, sanctify, and raise it again]. 14 And God both raised the Lord to life and will also raise us up by His power. 15 Do you not see and know that your bodies are members (bodily parts) of Christ (the Messiah)? Am I therefore to take the parts of Christ and make [them] parts of a prostitute? Never! Never! 16 Or do you not know and realize that when a man joins himself to a prostitute, he becomes one body with her? The two, it is written, shall become one flesh. 17 But the person who is united to the Lord becomes one spirit with Him. 18 Shun immorality and all sexual looseness [flee from impurity in thought, word, or deed]. Any other sin which a man commits is one outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. 19 Do you not know that your body is the temple (the very sanctuary) of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you, Whom you have received [as a Gift] from God? You are not your own, 20 You were bought with a price [purchased with a preciousness and paid for, made His own]. So then, honor God and bring glory to Him in your body..Stay safe and have a blessed weekend my friend 1!
And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap; if we faint not. FATHER GOD our Shield, we thank You for giving us life this day You have made, forgive us our sins as we forgive those who deceive, steal, use, lie, and persecute us, we know we shall treat others like we would want to be treated, its hard but if we do everything unto You, You get the glory and we reap the blessings, as we study and meditate on Your Word today open up our hearts to receive direction, knowledge, comfort, instruction and a closer relationship with You, please shield us and our loved ones from selfishness pride and lustful desires that will not profit us any, help us to delight, focus commit, and trust in You regardless of our earthly circumstances, so Your Will and Purpose can be done in our lives, for we want You to get the glory, for You are Worthy to receive Honor Glory and our Praise we cant do it without You, meet us at our place of need as we give You first priority in all areas of our lives, Psalm 37: 1 FRET NOT yourself because of evildoers, neither be envious against those who work unrighteousness (that which is not upright or in right standing with God).2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. 3 Trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) in the Lord and do good; so shall you dwell in the land and feed surely on His faithfulness, and truly you shall be fed. 4 Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the Lord [roll and repose each care of your load on Him]; trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) also in Him and He will bring it to pass. 6 And He will make your uprightness and right standing with God go forth as the light, and your justice and right as [the shining sun of] the noonday.7 Be still and rest in the Lord; wait for Him and patiently lean yourself upon Him; fret not yourself because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked devices to pass. 8 Cease from anger and forsake wrath; fret not yourself--it tends only to evildoing. 9 For evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait and hope and look for the Lord [in the end] shall inherit the earth.10 For yet a little while, and the evildoers will be no more; though you look with care where they used to be, they will not be found.11 But the meek [in the end] shall inherit the earth and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.12 The wicked plot against the [uncompromisingly] righteous (the upright in right standing with God); they gnash at them with their teeth. 13 The Lord laughs at [the wicked], for He sees that their own day [of defeat] is coming.
O what a mighty God we serve, Father God, we come before You once again, and thank You for answered prayers, healing in our bodies, Your divine love toward us, that You gave Your only begotten Son Jesus Christ our Lord as a sacrifice for our sins, and the Holy Spirit to direct and guide us, in a life, that is pleasing to Your sight, we thank You for the gifts, by the Holy Sprit, help us to use them, to edify each other (the body of Christ),family, friend, or enemy (Romans12:5So we, numerous as we are, are one body in Christ and individually we are parts one of another [mutually dependent on one another].6Having gifts (faculties, talents, qualities) that differ according to the grace given us, let us use them: [He whose gift is] prophecy, [let him prophesy] according to the proportion of his faith;7[He whose gift is] practical service, let him give himself to serving; he who teaches, to his teaching;8He who exhorts (encourages), to his exhortation; he who contributes, let him do it in simplicity and liberality; he who gives aid and superintends, with zeal and singleness of mind; he who does acts of mercy, with genuine cheerfulness and joyful eagerness,2Corinthians12: 3Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking under the power and influence of the [Holy] Spirit of God can [ever] say, Jesus be cursed! And no one can [really] say, Jesus is [my] Lord, except by and under the power and influence of the Holy Spirit.4Now there are distinctive varieties and distributions of endowments (gifts, extraordinary powers distinguishing certain Christians, due to the power of divine grace operating in their souls by the Holy Spirit) and they vary, but the [Holy] Spirit remains the same.5And there are distinctive varieties of service and ministration, but it is the same Lord [Who is served].6And there are distinctive varieties of operation [of working to accomplish things], but it is the same God Who inspires and energizes them all in all.
"VIBES" - 2008
