A day after the untimely death of Heavy D, the hip-hop community continues to feel the loss of "The Overweight Lover".

“Heavy D, that dude was an idol to me,” a solemn Fat Joe told XXL. “It’s sad. He inspired me to the highest level from wanting to be a big guy, wanting to be fly…that was all Heavy D. Making songs for the girls, that was all Heavy D inspiring me. We’re really, really, really hurt, man.

“Even though I didn’t use to speak to Heav every day or nothing like that, I really loved Heavy D,” Joe continued. “It’s just like a super sad event. What’s crazy is – I swear to God – just [Monday] me and my man were looking at Heavy D videos in my house. What’s the luck of that? It’s just super duper sad to hear the news. I still can’t believe it. It fucked me up. God bless his family because he really, really was a good dude who inspired me. It’s one of the saddest days – yeah – of my life.”

Heav's first cousin and collaborator Pete Rock was equally hurt on Hot 97 this morning.

"It's hard because it's still unbelievable," Pete said on Cipha Sounds and Rosenberg's morning show. "I didn't expect this to happen this fast, I was just with him a couple of weeks ago. I spent the night; he didn't even want me to leave. It's like he didn't want me to go and I laughed at him ... it was crazy."

Jadakisss expressed how Heavy D changed hip-hop for the better.

"Heavy D is a legend that was ahead of the times,” Jada said. “He brought hip-hop to a whole new level with the dancing, lyrics and beats. He was able to perform with artists like Michael and Janet Jackson and went on to act. He definitely was one of the first rappers out here to show us young guys that we can set out sights high and achieve anything. Rest In Peace."

As Jadakiss touched on, Heavy D had a full-fledged acting career as well and his death is felt in the Hollywood community also.

“Heavy D was a talented performer and one of the nicest and most genuine people I have ever met,” said Martin Lawrence, who appeared in the 1999 film Life with Heav, in a statement sent to XXL by his publicist. “I was so happy have known him, my prayers are with his family. God Bless him.”

Bun B believes that the hip-hop community should have saluted the rap legend more while he was alive.

“I just think that we should really stop taking our predecessors and pioneers for granted,” Bun told XXL. “We should take as much time as we have to really impress upon them how much we appreciate what they’ve done, how much honor, respect and admiration that we have for these people. I don’t know why he wasn’t as celebrated as much as our other OGs. I think in a way some of us kinda took Heavy D being around for granted.  He was always part of hip-hip and always represented hip-hop."

Joey Crack added that what’s most hurtful is that he had a chance meeting with Heav last year and the longtime rapper looked and felt fine.

“I seen Heavy D at Mr. Chows in LA and he asked me, ‘What the fuck was I doing eating that fattening shit?’” Joe said with a laugh.

“This was last year or something and he was looking cock-diesel. I didn’t understand. Heavy D lost a lot of weight, too. He was an amazing dude, a great guy.”

Heavy D died in Los Angeles Tuesday (November 8) after having trouble breathing. He was just 44. Toxicology test results should come in six weeks, although there were no illegal drugs found in his condo, according to the LA Times. The paper also reports that Heavy had visited the doctor a few days before due to a pesky cough that may have been pneumonia.—Mark Lelinwalla and Shaheem Reid

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