Heavy D to be honored by stars, family

MOUNT VERNON, N.Y. (AP) - A private funeral will be held Friday in Mount Vernon for hip-hop star Heavy D, who died last week at a Los Angeles hospital after collapsing outside his home. He was 44. His family said he died of complications from pneumonia.

Diddy, the Rev. Al Sharpton and singer Anthony Hamilton are among those expected to pay tribute to the influential rapper, known for hits like “The Overweight Lover’s in the House” and “Now That We Found Love.”

Heavy D was born in Jamaica but was raised in Mount Vernon, just north of New York City.

He often mentioned Mount Vernon in his rhymes, and had proudly claimed the city as “Money Earnin’ Mount Vernon.”