According to the L.A. County Coroner, Hip-Hop pioneer Heavy D died from what is known as a pulmonary embolism, brought on by deep leg vein thrombosis.

In other words, Heavy D died on November 9th 2011 from a blood clot in his leg that traveled to his lungs, which in turn, restricted blood flow, resulting in his untimely death at just 44 years old.

TMZ reports:

Heavy D died from a pulmonary embolism caused by deep leg vein thrombosis … and a long flight back to L.A. from a Michael Jackson memorial concert may have been a contributing factor.

A pulmonary embolism is a blockage of one or more arteries in the lungs — most often caused by blood clots which travel in from other parts of he body. In Heavy’s case, the clot was formed in his legs.

Days before Heavy died, he was on a flight back from Europe, after performing at the Michael Jackson tribute concert in Wales.

Deep leg vein thrombosis is often associated with long plane flights, in which a clot can form due to prolonged immobility.

Officials from the L.A. County Coroner’s Office say Heavy also suffered from heart disease, which could have been a contributing factor in his death.

The Coroner’s Office has classified the death as “natural.”

Pallbearers help carry the casket of rapper Heavy D at his funeral service at Grace Baptist Church on November 18, 2011 in Mount Vernon, New York.

Heavy D, who died at age 44 in Los Angeles from what his family said was complications from pneumonia, was laid to rest in a star studded funeral service in his hometown of Mount Vernon, New York on Friday (Nov 18).

A-List stars like like Jay-Z, Will and Jada Smith, Diddy, Queen Latifah, John Legend, Usher, Samuel L. Jackson and many more were all in attendance at the rap legend’s two-and-a-half hour funeral service at Grace Baptist Church, which was reportedly filled to capacity.

A mourner holds the program for Heavy D's funeral service at Grace Baptist Church on November 18, 2011 in Mount Vernon, New York.

Heavy D’s 11-year-old daughter Xea Myers spoke briefly during the service, telling the mourning attendees that her father was “still here, not in the flesh, but in the spirit.”

Diddy also talked about his late friend, including how he helped give him his start in the music industry, and how their longtime friendship continued up until Heavy D’s death.

“He became my friend. He became my brother, and I’m not talking about friend-brother like we cavalierly use the word, I’m talking about a real friend, a real brother,” Diddy said. “Somebody I shared my dreams and my secrets with, somebody that’s been there for me at my lowest point, my darkest hour when nobody wanted to be beside me.”

President Barack and First Lady Michelle Obama even offered a few words of encouragement to Heavy D’s family in the form of a note, which was read aloud by Rev. Al Sharpton:

“We extend our heartfelt condolences at this difficult time. He will be remembered for his infectious optimism and many contributions to American music. Please know that you and your family will be in our thoughts and prayers.”

A memorial fund has been set up to help financially aid Heavy D’s young daughter Xea. Details can be found on the website: http://rememberheavyd.com

The day before Heavy D suddenly collapsed and died at the young age of 44, the rapper knew something was wrong with his health, so he went to the doctor for a check-up with “what appeared to be like flu-like symptoms,” Ed Winter, Assistant Chief of the L.A. County Coroner’s office said.

Heavy D, whose real name was Dwight Arrington Myers, had just come back from a trip to England. “He said he had a touch of pneumonia, maybe from traveling,” his cousin Ruddy Phillips told The New York Daily News.

Myers had just returned home from a shopping trip when he started experiencing shortness of breath and collapsed in a hallway outside his condo building.

He was rushed to Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles and died an hour and a half later, Lt. Mark Rosen of the Beverly Hills Police Department said.

“There doesn’t appear to be any foul play. We believe it was medically related,” Rosen said.

When officers first arrived at his home after a 911 call was made, Myers was conscious and talking, but having difficulty breathing.

An autopsy was performed last Wednesday, but investigators declined to release a preliminary cause of death until toxicology tests are performed. The tests could take up to six weeks to complete.

Dwight Arrington Myers, born in 1967 in Jamaica and raised in Mount Vernon, rose to fame in the 1990′s as the front-man for the group “Heavy D and the Boyz.”

Alongside his bandmates G-Whiz, Trouble T. Roy and Eddie F., Heavy D made Hip-Hop history with hit songs like “Now That We Found Love” and “Nuthin But Love.”

He also is credited for rapping on the theme songs for “In Living Color” and “Mad TV,” and was also featured on the song “Jam” with his good friend Michael Jackson.

Heavy D has also had featured acting roles on movies and TV shows like “The Tracy Morgan Show,” “Boston Public,” “Life,” “The Cider House Rules” and most recently had a cameo in the new movie “Tower Heist,” starring Eddie Murphy and Ben Stiller.

Heavy D last performed in October at the BET Awards and with LeToya Jackson at the Michael Jackson tribute concert in Wales, where he and the Late King of Pop’s sister performed “Jam.”

He leaves behind a 13-year-old daughter, whom he was extremely close with, the rapper’s cousin Ruddy Phillips said.

“He was a really great dad. Everybody is wondering how she’s going to take it now that he’s gone. She loves her dad so much,” Phillips said. “And his mother is taking it really hard. He’s the third brother in the family to die. Everybody is stunned. No one can believe it. He was so young.”

Funeral services for the late rapper will be held over a period of two days in his hometown of Mount Vernon, New York this coming Thursday and Friday.

A public viewing is scheduled for Thursday (Nov 17) from noon to 6 p.m., while a private service for family and close friends will follow the next day.

Yesterday, Hip-Hop lost one of it’s strongest soldiers.

Just two weeks before his untimely death, rap legend Heavy D did his last interview with Tim Westwood and discussed everything from performing at the BET Awards to making tracks for Jay-Z.

Peep the footage below:

R.I.P. Heavy D … you will be forever missed!!

Heavy D, known as one of the most influential rappers in the early stages of Hip-Hop, unexpectedly died today.

According to TMZ, the rap legend was found passed out outside of his Beverly Hills home at around 2:30 PM EST and someone called 911.

When emergency personnel arrived on the scene, Heavy D (real name: Dwight Arrington Myers) was conscious and speaking. He was then immediately rushed to a nearby hospital where he died a short time later.

He was pronounced dead at 1 PM Eastern time. He was 44 years old.

Heavy D’s shocking death comes after the rapper performed with LaToya Jackson at the Michael Jackson Tribute Concert in Wales on October 8th.

A week before that, he performed a medley of his chart-topping hits at the BET Hip-Hop Awards in Atlanta, dancing up a storm and looking pretty healthy.

Watch that performance below:

Rap veteran Heavy D took it back to the old school days of Hip-Hop with his BET Hip-Hop Awards performance, which closed out the 6th annual show.

Dressed in all black, a svelte Heavy D did some smooth, choreographed dance moves as he performed a medley of his chart-topping hits, including “Nothin’ But Love,” “We Got Our Own Thing,” and “Somebody for Me,” making the audience feel like they were on a time machine that took them back to the early 90′s.

And in the middle of his set, Heavy D was joined by R&B crooner Tyrese, and the duo performed Heavy D’s 90′s club anthem “Now That We’ve Found Love.”

The 2011 BET Hip-Hop Awards, hosted by comedian/actor Mike Epps, were held on October 1st in Atlanta, GA at the Civic Center, and aired on BET Tuesday night (Oct 11).

Watch Heavy D close out this year’s BET Hip-Hop Awards below:

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PHOTOS: WIRE IMAGE

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PHOTOS: WIRE IMAGE