Long before Puff Daddy and The Notorious B.I.G. figured out how to turn an overweight street rapper into a beloved pop star, Heavy D & The Boyz blazed the trail. Heavy’s music assimilated dance and R&B into hip-hop without pandering to the mainstream. Though he tried many styles, his standards were high. His run of hits lasted almost 10 years, starting with 1987’s fundamental hip-hop jam “The Overweight Lover’s in the House.” Heavy has yet to receive due credit for his catalytic influence on hip-hop, but at the very least, these 11 songs affirm his musical excellence.