The hip hop world is in mourning in the wake of the sudden death of Chris Lighty, the legendary manager and CEO of Violator Entertainment.
Lighty, 44, was found dead at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday morning in his Bronx apartment with a self-inflicted gun shot wound to the head.
He got his start carrying crates for fellow Bronx native DJ Red Alert back in the '80s, before landing a coveted gig at Russell Simmons and Lyor Cohen's Rush Management. Lighty was closely linked to the Native Tongues movement in its early days, even dropping a rhyme on "Pass the 40" from Black Sheep's classic 1991 debut, Wolf in Sheep's Clothing.But he became an industry icon when he started Violator Entertainment, the management firm, record label and marketing company that guided the careers of 50 Cent, LL Cool J, Busta Rhymes and more. He helped build his massive stable of artists into a branding empire, snagging deals that included commercials, endorsements as well as video games, fragrance, beverage and clothing lines.
It appeared he died from a bullet to his head, sources said. A gun was recovered next to his body.
Law enforcement sources said Lighty — who divorced his wife, Veronica, last year — may have been dealing with financial struggles, including owing about $5 million to the IRS.
HE WILL BE MISSED
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