Big Tyme

Though Heavy D was the self-proclaimed “overweight lover,” he was also one of the nimblest rappers of his era, and his swift flow is the defining element of 1989’s Big Tyme. While other rappers roared like lions, Heavy handled himself with the sleek confidence of a leopard. He was also an exceptional nurturer of young talent in its formative stage. A teenage Teddy Riley helped Heavy turn hip-hop into club music on “We Got Our Own Thang,” while Pete Rock delivered the luxurious funk and reggae of “Mood for Love” and “Big Tyme.”