Rap legend Heavy D — one of the most influential rappers of the ’90s – died earlier today.

Real name Dwight Arrington Myers was rushed to Cedars Sinai Hospital around noon today … and was pronounced dead at the hospital at 1 PM. He was 44 years old.

We’ve learned a 911 call was placed from Heavy’s Beverly Hills home around 11:25 AM to report an unconscious male on the walkway .

When help arrived, we’re told Heavy D was conscious and speaking — and was transported to a nearby hospital.

He died a short time later.

Cops are investigating the death — and so far, there are no obvious signs of foul play. Police have started an investigation at the home.

Born in Jamaica in 1967, he later moved to the Bronx and became friends with Glen Parrish (G-Wiz), Eddie F (Eddie Ferrell) and Troy Dixon (Trouble T-Roy), and they formed the rap group Heavy D & the Boyz.

Heavy D had several massive hits — including Now That We Found Love, Nuttin’ But Love,  Da Girls They Love Me, We Got Our Own Thang, Is It Good To You and Love Me For Me. He also wrote and performed the theme song for In Living Color … and appeared as an actor in the movie Life and sitcom Living Single. The rapper also produced songs in the past for artists such as Jay-Z and discovered the teen group Soul for Real.

Heavy D was referred to in the song Juicy by the Notorious B.I.G., and appears in his music video for One More Chance. In later years, he would start to act, and appeared in numerous other  television sitcoms and motion pictures including A Different World, New Jersey Drive, Roc, The Cider House Rules, Boston Public, The Tracy Morgan Show, Law & Order Special Victims Unit, Tyler Perry’s House of Pain and most recently, Tower Heist, starring Eddie Murphy, in theatres now. 

Heavy just performed at the Michael Jackson Tribute Concert in Wales on October 8. He sang Jam with La Toya Jackson — and rocked it (video below).

The Nuttin’ But Love video included a beavy of supermodels (at the time) including Rebecca Gayheart, Kim Porter, Cynthia Bailey (Real Housewives of Atlanta and others.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ that the car was pulled over for a traffic violation. Officers searched the car and found a “substantial amount” of marijuana and cash inside the vehicle.

DeAndre, whose last album sold a grand total of 15,000 copies, was arrested and hauled away to the Carroll County Jail — along with his compadres — where he is currently being held without bond.

After speculations began and the cast had their 12 year reunion several months ago, the best wedding movie of all times, “The Best Man“ is getting a sequel and Universal Pictures has officially signed on to be the studio home of Best Man 2 with  the original  director Malcolm Lee returning to the helm.  Lee is currently working on locking down the original YBF cast featuring Taye Diggs, Sanaa Lathan, Monica Moore, Nia Long, Terrence Howard, Morris Chestnut, Harold Perrineau and plenty more.

Just in case you are from another planet and/or do not recall the story behind The Best Man, this was a comedy in which a writer (Taye Diggs) is preparing to be the best man for his football player buddy (Morris Chestnut), but the timing is bad because the writer’s autobiographical novel is about to pop and it describes how the best man bedded the bride.

The full cast recently reunited.

Can’t wait for this one!  Its going to be the theme for many African American weddings for 2012, I’m more than sure of it!

Jerald Andrews, a man who once thought he was the boy’s grandfather, told Star Magazine that DNA tests proved definitively that Jay-Z was the dad of the now 9-year-old tyke.

But when contacted Wednesday by The Daily News, Andrews, 67, denied having any first-hand knowledge there was a DNA test.

“I know Shenelle, but I’ve never spoken to her or my son about this. They’re very private people. The stuff about the DNA test was on the Internet. It’s all from an old article on the Internet,” he said. “I don’t know if it’s true.”

According to Star Magazine, Andrews recently sat down for an exclusive interview to discuss the heartbreak endured by his son Malik Sayeed.

“At the time (the baby) was born, my son Malik thought he was his child, but they did DNA tests,” Andrews reportedly told Star. “It’s been determined that (the child is) Jay-Z’s baby.”

Not that I am surprised, Jay-Z’s camp has been unavailable for comment. Guess they need time to contact Shenelle and right another big check!

This boy does resemble Jay-Z. Hopefully, Bey's baby won't be a splitting image of this child. If so...

Although Laury Thilleman (Miss France) went no further than the top 10 in the Miss Universe Pageant, she displayed how she felt for the winner Leila Lopes from Angola and her overall experience as a contestant in a recent interview with a French magazine.

Being politically correct, Miss France explains how great it was for France to make it to the top ten and how fantastic of an experience it was to hang out with 88 beautiful girls from all over the world for a week and the hater juices began to flow when asked how she felt about Miss Angola’s win!

“She was the only girl I didn’t know very well. We didn’t see her much; she was very discreet. She was often in jeans and not wearing makeup. We were all surprised by her win. Many girls made efforts that were not rewarded. I don’t know, something is missing in her temperament.”

“Lopes was a very reserved kind of person and she also lacked in personality,” Thilleman said.

“Oh, and the fact that the contest was held in Brazil also played a big role — the implication being that Angola is a former Portuguese colony like Brazil. (If that’s the case then why didn’t they just elect Miss Brazil!?),” Thilleman told the magazine.

Hmmm, HATER_the competition was in Brazil but Miss Brazil came in 2nd Runner up! Did she forget Trump and judges look for beauty, poise and having a BRAIN?

After all the buzz surrounding Swizz Beatz cheating on both Mashonda and Alicia Keys with the SAME person,  Swizzy pulls the ultimate cheaters move (a Kobe) and buys his wife a Lotus.

Taking a few lessons from the Victoria Beckham and Land Rover playbook, Lotus announced on Monday that it Beatz,  the Grammy-winning rapper and producer has been  hired to serve as a high-profile consultant.

Inside Line Reports:

“The key is to infiltrate the market in a cool way,” said Beatz, whose real name is Kasseem Daoud Dean, in a Lotus video showing the rapper’s first day at work.

The video follows Beatz as he arrives at Lotus in a helicopter, is driven in a Lotus on a racetrack and later advises teams of Lotus employees, including CEO Dany Bahar.

The best is for “things to happen organically,” Beatz expounds.

“They want flash,” Beatz says in describing prospective Lotus buyers.

How long will it be before we see the Swizz Beatz edition!

TMZ Reports:
A huge development in the Michael Jackson Estate case. The Executors have done so well making money for the Estate since Jackson died, they want to fund the Michael Jackson Trust to the tune of $30 million for the benefit of Katherine Jackson and Michael’s 3 kids.

TMZ has obtained court documents in which co-Executors John Branca and John McClain are asking the court’s permission to fund the trust. According to the docs, the Estate generated more than $310 million in gross revenues as of December 31, 2010 — that’s the latest accounting.

In addition to funding the trust, the Executors are asking the court’s permission to sell the longtime family home on Hayvenhurst Avenue in Encino, CA. According to the docs, Katherine wants to sell the house and, although no price is mentioned, the property was valued at $4,150,000 when Michael died.
The docs say Katherine wants the Estate to purchase another home and she’s eying several properties, but we’re told the home she really wants is the Calabasas house in which she and the kids are currently living.

There was $310 million made and you only want to shoot them 30?? We know MJ had debts and $30 mill is no small chunk of change, but get that number up a lil bit playa…

Jordin Sparks

Yup, looks like NIPPY is on the come back AGAIN! Sony Pictures is rounding up cast members for its remake of the 1976 music-themed pic “Sparkle”: Whitney Houston is in negotiations to join “American Idol” winner Jordin Sparks and Comedian Mike Epps in the film, which Salim Akil is directing from a script by Mara Brock Akil and Debra Martin Chase, TD Jakes and Curtis Wallace will also be producing the film while Houston will exec produce with Howard Rosenman and Gaylyn Fraiche.

The original film “Sparkle” followed three sisters who begin singing in their church choir in Harlem in the late 1950s and go on to become a successful girl group. Their sudden rise unravels their personal lives. Remake will be set in 1968 Detroit during the rise of Motown. Story will focus on the youngest sister, a music prodigy named Sparkle (Sparks), and her struggle to become a star while overcoming issues that are tearing her family apart.

“Sparkle” will mark Houston’s first starring film role in 15 years; she last toplined Penny Marshall’s 1996 pic “The Preacher’s Wife.” The Grammy-winning recording artist previously starred in “Waiting to Exhale and “The Bodyguard.” Epps, who starred in the helmer’s wedding pic “Jumping the Broom.” That pic grossed more than $37 million domestically earlier this year. Epps, best known for his comedic turns in “The Hangover” and “The Honeymooners,” has been showcasing his dramatic chops of late: He recently wrapped the indie thriller “Vipaka,” which stars Forest Whitaker and Anthony Mackie. Epps’ next gig is hosting this year’s BET Hip-Hop Awards.

Hopefully, Nippy can go with her daily dose, Epps don’t become Katt Williams and Sparks can get her career to that J Hud level!

WTF, is going on! Is this a fad to go to jail, get out and go right back (T.I.)? Funny, how celebs and wealthy people can go to prison and get out and pick up where they left off but the average person cannot get a minimum wage paying job or a decent place to live! SMH!

T.I. barely had enough time to unpack his things at a halfway house in Atlanta before Federal Bureau of Prisons officials moved him to another location on Thursday.

MTV reports T.I.’s lawyer confirmed for The Associated Press that the MC has been moved from the halfway house he entered on Wednesday to another, undisclosed location because of a “transportation issue” involving T.I.’s use of a luxury tour bus to the facility.

On Wednesday, T.I. was released from a federal prison in Arkansas to the community living facility in Georgia, where he was slated to serve out the rest of his 11-month sentence for probation violation. He was followed by VH1 cameras on his journey as part of a reality show slated to air in December that will give viewers a behind-the-scenes look at his life with wife Tameka “Tiny” Harris.

Lawyer Steve Sadow did not specify why T.I. (born Clifford Harris) was moved, but said the action was not drug-related and that he was working to resolve the situation.

“There appears to be confusion surrounding the method of transportation,” Sadow said.

T.I. left the Forrest City low-security prison in Arkansas in the tinted-window bus, which was followed by four other vehicles.

“The storm is over & da sun back out. IT’S OUR TIME TO SHINE SHAWTY!!!!!” the rapper tweeted shortly after his release. “Welcome to the beginning of our Happy Ending!!!!”

T.I. arrived to the first location in a luxury tour bus and 4-car motorcade.