Over the course of his career, Heavy D was one of the most consistent hitmakers of his generation. Heavy D & The Boyz made their debut with 1987s Livin' Large, and the crew (which featured DJ Eddie F alongside dancers G-Whiz and the late Trouble T-Roy) would go on a remarkable seven year of gold and platinum hits. T-Roy's death in 1991 shook the group to it's core, but they responded with the platinum-selling Peaceful Journey and refocused for 1992s Blue Funk and 1994s smash Nuttin' But Love.

In the mid-90s, Heavy began flexing his muscle as a producer, manager and mogul; crafting R&B hits for Soul IV Real and Monifah, while also running Uptown Records and signing seminal Hip-Hop acts like Lost Boyz. And the Heavster dropped his first solo album, the stellar Waterbed Hev, in 1997.

Heavy D was both beloved everyman and Hip-Hop unicorn; a chart-topping rapper, a brilliant producer, an actor, a labelhead. He was comfortable with Hip-Hop, R&B, reggae and rock—he did it all in his career. He worked with everyone from Flavor Flav to Jay-Z, and helped put Mt. Vernon on the Hip-Hop map. He's been gone since 2011, and Hip-Hop will forever miss the late, great Dwight Myers. Here are 25 of Heavy D's dopest songs.