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{{short description|American music industry executive (1968–2012)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox person <!-- See [[Template:Infobox actor]] for more -->
{{Infobox person <!-- See [[Template:Infobox actor]] for more -->
| image =
| image =
| imagesize =
| caption =
| caption =
| alias = Baby Chris
| birth_name= Darrel Steven Lighty
| birth_name= Darrel Steven Lighty
| birth_date = {{birth date|1968|5|8}}
| birth_date = {{birth date|1968|5|8}}
| birth_place = [[The Bronx]], [[New York City]], [[New York (state)|New York]], [[United States|U.S.]]
| birth_place = [[The Bronx]], [[New York City]], U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2012|8|30|1968|5|8}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|2012|8|30|1968|5|8}}
| death_place = The Bronx, New York City, New York, U.S.
| death_place = The Bronx, New York City, U.S.
| occupation = [[Music industry|Music industry executive]]
| occupation = [[Record executive]]
| years active = 1989–2012
| years active = 1989–2012
⚫
| module = {{Infobox musical artist
| nationality = American
| embed = yes
⚫
| module = {{Infobox musical artist | embed=yes
⚫
| genre = [[Hip hop music|Hip hop]]
| background = non_performing_personnel
⚫
| genre = [[Hip-hop]]}}
}}
}}
}}
'''Darrel{{efn|His passport, according to some news sources<ref name= "Kemp 083012" /> and an official Brazilian source<ref>{{cite web| url= http://pesquisa.in.gov.br/imprensa/servlet/INPDFViewer?jornal=1&pagina=106&data=13/07/2010&captchafield=firistAccess| website= in.gov.br| publisher= Imprensa Nacional, Government of Brazil| title= Diário Oficial da União| trans-title= Official Diary of the Union |date= July 13, 2010| number= 132| page= 106| issn= 1677-7042| quote= Estrangeiro: DARREL STEVEN LIGHTY Passaporte: 442061304}}</ref> (recording his visit there), indicates this spelling, although news sources have also spelled his name ending with an additional ''l''.<ref name= prior />}} Steven "Chris" Lighty<ref name= prior>{{cite news| url= http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/suicide_by_sad_hip_hop_mogul_BkW8uJjFcOGQQIEoqHa37I | work=New York Post | first=Kirstan | last=Conley | title=Hip-hop mogul Chris Lighty battled money, marriage woes prior to suicide: sources | date=August 31, 2012}}</ref>''' (May 8, 1968 – August 30, 2012) was an [[Americans|American]] [[music industry]] executive. He co-founded [[Violator (company)|Violator]], a record label, management and marketing company, which represented [[hip hop music|hip hop]] artists such as [[Nas]], [[Ja Rule]], [[Mobb Deep]], [[Missy Elliott]], [[LL Cool J]], [[Uncle Murda]], [[50 Cent]], [[Mariah Carey]] and [[Sean "Diddy" Combs]].<ref name= "Kemp 083012" /><ref name= prior /><ref name="Thomasos"/> ''The New York Times'' called him "one of the most powerful figures in the hip-hop business."<ref name=NYT>{{cite news|last=Sisario|first=Ben|title=Chris Lighty, Manager of Hip-Hop Stars, Dies at 44| url= https://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/31/arts/music/chris-lighty-manager-of-hip-hip-stars-dies-at-44.html|accessdate=30 August 2012|newspaper= [[The New York Times]] |date= 30 August 2012}}</ref>
'''Darrel{{efn|His passport, according to some news sources<ref name= "Kemp 083012" /> and an official Brazilian source<ref>{{cite web| url= http://pesquisa.in.gov.br/imprensa/servlet/INPDFViewer?jornal=1&pagina=106&data=13/07/2010&captchafield=firistAccess| website= in.gov.br| publisher= Imprensa Nacional, Government of Brazil| title= Diário Oficial da União| trans-title= Official Diary of the Union |date= July 13, 2010| number= 132| page= 106| issn= 1677-7042| quote= Estrangeiro: DARREL STEVEN LIGHTY Passaporte: 442061304}}</ref> (recording his visit there), indicates this spelling, although news sources have also spelled his name ending with an additional ''l''.<ref name= prior />}} Steven "Chris" Lighty<ref name= prior>{{cite news| url= http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/suicide_by_sad_hip_hop_mogul_BkW8uJjFcOGQQIEoqHa37I | work=New York Post | first=Kirstan | last=Conley | title=Hip-hop mogul Chris Lighty battled money, marriage woes prior to suicide: sources | date=August 31, 2012}}</ref>''' (May 8, 1968 – August 30, 2012) was an American music industry executive. He co-founded [[Violator (company)|Violator]], a record label, management and marketing company, which represented [[hip hop music|hip hop]] and [[contemporary R&B|R&B]] artists such as [[Busta Rhymes]], [[A Tribe Called Quest]], [[Nas]], [[Mobb Deep]], [[Missy Elliott]], [[LL Cool J]], [[Noreaga]], [[Uncle Murda]], [[50 Cent]], [[Mariah Carey]] and [[Sean "Diddy" Combs]].<ref name= "Kemp 083012" /><ref name= prior /><ref name="Thomasos"/> ''The New York Times'' called him "one of the most powerful figures in the hip-hop business."<ref name=NYT>{{cite news|last=Sisario|first=Ben|title=Chris Lighty, Manager of Hip-Hop Stars, Dies at 44| url= https://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/31/arts/music/chris-lighty-manager-of-hip-hip-stars-dies-at-44.html|accessdate=August 30, 2012|newspaper= [[The New York Times]] |date= August 30, 2012}}</ref>


==Early life==
==Early life==
Lighty<ref name= prior /> was born in the [[Bronx]], [[New York City]], [[New York (state)|New York]] and raised in the [[Bronx River Housing Projects]].<ref name="Thomasos">{{Cite news |first=Christine |last=Thomasos |date= August 30, 2012 |title=Chris Lighty's Death Shakes Hip-Hop World; Celebrities in Mourning |newspaper=[[The Christian Post]] |url=http://global.christianpost.com/news/chris-lightys-death-shakes-hip-hop-world-celebrities-in-mourning-80874/ |accessdate=August 30, 2012 }}</ref><ref name= "Kemp 083012" /> His mother was single. He had five siblings, including a brother, Dave.<ref name= "Dave Speaks">{{cite web| website= HipHopDX.com| url= http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.21347/title.dave-lighty-speaks-on-his-brother-chris-lightys-death| title= Dave Lighty Speaks On His Brother Chris Lighty's Death| date= September 29, 2012 |first= Steven |last= Horowitz | access-date= June 1, 2017}}</ref> He attended [[Samuel Gompers High School]], and did not attend college, and he stated that he "got [his] [[MBA]] in hell," in reference to growing up on the streets of a dangerous neighborhood.<ref name=NYT/>
Lighty<ref name= prior /> was born in the [[Bronx]], New York City, New York, and raised in the [[Bronx River Housing Projects]].<ref name="Thomasos">{{Cite news |first=Christine |last=Thomasos |date=August 30, 2012 |title=Chris Lighty's Death Shakes Hip-Hop World; Celebrities in Mourning |newspaper=[[The Christian Post]] |url=http://global.christianpost.com/news/chris-lightys-death-shakes-hip-hop-world-celebrities-in-mourning-80874/ |accessdate=August 30, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017112934/http://global.christianpost.com/news/chris-lightys-death-shakes-hip-hop-world-celebrities-in-mourning-80874/ |archive-date=October 17, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name= "Kemp 083012" /> His mother was single. He had five siblings, including a brother, Dave.<ref name= "Dave Speaks">{{cite web| website= HipHopDX.com| url= http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.21347/title.dave-lighty-speaks-on-his-brother-chris-lightys-death| title= Dave Lighty Speaks On His Brother Chris Lighty's Death| date= September 29, 2012 |first= Steven |last= Horowitz | access-date= June 1, 2017}}</ref> He attended [[Samuel Gompers High School]], and did not attend college, and he stated that he "got [his] [[MBA]] in hell," in reference to growing up on the streets of a dangerous neighborhood.<ref name=NYT/>


==Career==
==Career==
Lighty began working in the music industry by carrying [[vinyl record]] crates for [[DJ Red Alert]].<ref name= "AHH interview">{{cite web| quote= I started carrying crates for Red Alert.| website= AllHipHop.com | date= January 14, 2004| title= Violator All-Star DJ Coalition Launches | url= https://allhiphop.com/2004/01/14/violator-all-star-dj-coalition-launches/ | access-date= June 1, 2017}}</ref> Later, [[Russell Simmons]]' company, [[Rush Communications|Rush Artist Management]], hired him.<ref name= "Kemp 083012" /> Lighty founded a management company in the early 1990s called Violator; the company is named after the [[street gang|gang]] he belonged to in the Bronx. Violator was responsible for getting [[L.L. Cool J]] his first [[Gap (company)|Gap]] commercial in 1997. Lighty developed endorsements for [[Sprite (soft drink)|Sprite]] with [[A Tribe Called Quest]], [[AT&T]] with [[Diggy Simmons]], and for [[Mountain Dew]] with [[Busta Rhymes]].
Lighty began working in the music industry by carrying vinyl record crates for [[DJ Red Alert]].<ref name= "AHH interview">{{cite web| quote= I started carrying crates for Red Alert.| website= AllHipHop.com | date= January 14, 2004| title= Violator All-Star DJ Coalition Launches | url= https://allhiphop.com/2004/01/14/violator-all-star-dj-coalition-launches/ | access-date= June 1, 2017}}</ref> Later, [[Russell Simmons]]' company, [[Rush Communications|Rush Artist Management]], hired him.<ref name= "Kemp 083012" /> After leaving Rush, Lighty co-founded Violator Management with [[Mona Scott-Young]] in 1996;<ref>{{cite web|last=Delerme|first=Felipe|title=Personal History: Mona Scott-Young|url=http://www.thefader.com/2013/05/08/personal-history-mona-scott-young/|work=TheFader.com|date=May 8, 2013|accessdate=September 1, 2020}}</ref> the company is named after the gang he belonged to in the Bronx. Violator was responsible for getting [[L.L. Cool J]] his first [[Gap (company)|Gap]] commercial in 1997. Lighty developed endorsements for [[Sprite (soft drink)|Sprite]] with [[A Tribe Called Quest]], [[AT&T]] with [[Diggy Simmons]], and for [[Mountain Dew]] with [[Busta Rhymes]].


In 2002, Lighty and a DJ from [[Chicago]], DJ Scrap Dirty, created The Violator Allstar DJs. "We wanted to build a situation for the DJ’s who might need more muscle," Lighty remarked.<ref name= "AHH interview" /> The same year he appeared in the [[Electronic Arts]] video game ''[[Def Jam: Fight for NY]]'' as the character Baby Chris.
In 2002, Lighty and a DJ from Chicago, DJ Scrap Dirty, created The Violator Allstar DJs. "We wanted to build a situation for the DJs who might need more muscle," Lighty remarked.<ref name= "AHH interview" /> He appeared in the September 2004 [[Electronic Arts]] video game ''[[Def Jam: Fight for NY]]'' as himself under the moniker "Baby Chris".


Lighty worked for [[Def Jam]], [[Jive Records|Jive]] and [[Loud Records]]. He was chief executive of the Brand Asset Group. In 2004, Lighty brokered the largest brand endorsement deal in hip hop to date. He was the architect of what turned out to be one of the most lucrative deals in hip hop history: rapper [[50 Cent]]’s [[Vitamin Water]] pact. When [[Coca-Cola]] paid $4.1 billion for Vitamin Water's company [[Glaceau]] three years later, 50 Cent received $100 million,<ref name= "Kemp 083012" /> and Lighty received an undisclosed sum.<ref name= Forbes>{{cite news| last= O'Malley Greenburg| first= Zack |date= August 30, 2012| url= https://www.forbes.com/sites/zackomalleygreenburg/2012/08/30/hip-hop-business-pioneer-chris-lighty-dead-at-44/ |title= Hip-Hop Business Pioneer Chris Lighty Dead At 44| work= [[Forbes]]| access-date= }}</ref>
Lighty worked for [[Def Jam]], [[Jive Records|Jive]] and [[Loud Records]]. He was chief executive of the Brand Asset Group. In 2004, Lighty brokered the largest brand endorsement deal in hip hop to date. He was the architect of what turned out to be one of the most lucrative deals in hip hop history: rapper [[50 Cent]]'s [[Vitamin Water]] pact. When [[Coca-Cola]] paid $4.1 billion for Vitamin Water's company [[Glaceau]] three years later, 50 Cent received $100 million,<ref name= "Kemp 083012" /> and Lighty received an undisclosed sum.<ref name= Forbes>{{cite news| last= O'Malley Greenburg| first= Zack |date= August 30, 2012| url= https://www.forbes.com/sites/zackomalleygreenburg/2012/08/30/hip-hop-business-pioneer-chris-lighty-dead-at-44/ |title= Hip-Hop Business Pioneer Chris Lighty Dead At 44| work= [[Forbes]]}}</ref>


In 2011, Lighty launched the website ''pleaselistentomydemo.com'', which allowed new artists to submit their music online and have top music executives listen to it for a US$10 fee.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Kim |last=Osorio |date=May 10, 2011 |title=Chris Lighty Launches New Website |publisher =[[Black Entertainment Television]] |website= BET.com|url= http://www.bet.com/news/music/2011/05/10/chris-lighty-launches-new-website.html |accessdate=May 10, 2011 }}</ref> (The site is no longer active.)
In 2011, Lighty launched the website pleaselistentomydemo.com, which allowed new artists to submit their music online and have top music executives listen to it for a US$10 fee.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Kim |last=Osorio |date=May 10, 2011 |title=Chris Lighty Launches New Website |publisher =[[Black Entertainment Television]] |website= BET.com|url= https://www.bet.com/article/tw8kio/chris-lighty-launches-new-website |access-date=May 10, 2011 }}</ref> (The site is no longer active.)


In 2011, Violator merged with another company, [[Primary_Wave_(company)|Primary Wave]] to form Primary Violator.<ref name=NYT/>
In 2011, Violator merged with another company, [[Primary Wave (company)|Primary Wave]] to form Primary Violator.<ref name=NYT/>


==Personal life==
==Personal life==
Lighty married his wife Veronica in 2003. Together they had two children, daughter Deja (born 1995) as well as a son (born 2007). He also had four other children from previous relationships including daughter Tiffany (born 1995). At the time of his death, Lighty and his wife Veronica were in the process of getting a divorce.<ref name= "Kemp 083012" />
Lighty married his wife Veronica in 2003. Together they had two children, daughter Deja (born 1995) as well as a son (born 2007). He also had four other children from previous relationships including daughter Tiffany (born 1995). In 2011, Veronica filed for divorce but at the time of Lighty's death, she claimed to have retracted her original request.<ref name= "Kemp 083012" />


He had reportedly been under scrutiny for income tax issues for amounts up to US$5 million, but this was resolved with the sale of a [[Manhattan]] property of his; other sums were also owed.<ref name= "Kemp 083012" />
He had reportedly been under scrutiny for income tax issues for amounts up to US$5 million, but this was resolved with the sale of a [[Manhattan]] property of his; other sums were also owed.<ref name= "Kemp 083012" />


==Death==
==Death==
On August 30, 2012, Lighty was found dead on the patio of his South [[Riverdale, Bronx]]<ref name= "Kemp 083012" /> apartment from an apparent self-inflicted [[gunshot wound]] to the head.<ref name=NYT/> The ''[[Daily News (New York)|New York Daily News]]'' reported that "a gun shot was heard and Lighty was found lying face-up with a 9mm pistol next to his body".<ref name= "Kemp 083012">{{Cite news |first1=Joe |last1=Kemp | first2= Michael J. | last2= Feeney| first3= Anita M. | last3= Samuels| first4= Kerry | last4= Wills |date=August 30, 2012 |title=Hip-hop manager Chris Lighty dead after shooting himself outside his Bronx apartment: cops |newspaper=[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]] |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/hip-hop-manager-chris-lighty-dead-apparent-suicide-bronx-apartment-cops-article-1.1148073 |accessdate=August 30, 2012 }}</ref> ''[[Forbes]]'' magazine reported that he had been involved in an argument with his wife Veronica not too long before his body was discovered.<ref name=Forbes/>
On August 30, 2012, Lighty was found dead on the patio of his South [[Riverdale, Bronx]]<ref name= "Kemp 083012" /> apartment from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.<ref name=NYT/> The ''[[Daily News (New York)|New York Daily News]]'' reported that "a gun shot was heard and Lighty was found lying face-up with a 9mm pistol next to his body".<ref name= "Kemp 083012">{{Cite news |first1=Joe |last1=Kemp | first2= Michael J. | last2= Feeney| first3= Anita M. | last3= Samuels| first4= Kerry | last4= Wills |date=August 30, 2012 |title=Hip-hop manager Chris Lighty dead after shooting himself outside his Bronx apartment: cops |newspaper=[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]] |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/hip-hop-manager-chris-lighty-dead-apparent-suicide-bronx-apartment-cops-article-1.1148073 |accessdate=August 30, 2012 }}</ref> ''[[Forbes]]'' magazine reported that he had been involved in an argument with his wife Veronica not too long before his body was discovered.<ref name=Forbes/>


Lighty's brother stated that he did not believe that the death was a suicide and that the family would be staging its own private independent investigation and would share any solid findings with the public.<ref name= "Dave Speaks" /> Rapper 50 Cent, a client and close friend of Chris, also questioned the suicide claim; he hired a team to investigate the details of the incident, at the request of Lighty's mother.<ref>{{cite web| website= HipHopDX.com| url= http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.21282/title.50-cent-reportedly-hires-investigators-to-look-into-chris-lightys-death | title= 50 Cent Reportedly Hires Investigators To Look Into Chris Lighty's Death | date= September 25, 2012 |first= Andres |last= Tardio | access-date= June 1, 2017}}</ref> Friend and rapper [[Papoose (rapper)|Papoose]] questions Lighty's death as suicide in the song "Obituary 2012".<ref>{{cite web| website= HipHopDX.com| url= http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.22446/title.papoose-questions-chris-lightys-suicide-on-obituary-2012-track | title= Papoose Questions Chris Lighty's Suicide On "Obituary 2012" Track| date= January 6, 2013| first= Roman |last= Cooper | access-date= June 1, 2017}}</ref>
Lighty's brother and many other celebrity figures stated that they did not believe that the death was a suicide and that the family would be staging its own private independent investigation and would share any solid findings with the public.<ref name= "Dave Speaks" /> Rapper 50 Cent, a client and close friend of Chris, also questioned the suicide claim; he hired a team to investigate the details of the incident, at the request of Lighty's mother.<ref>{{cite web| website= HipHopDX.com| url= http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.21282/title.50-cent-reportedly-hires-investigators-to-look-into-chris-lightys-death | title= 50 Cent Reportedly Hires Investigators To Look Into Chris Lighty's Death | date= September 25, 2012 |first= Andres |last= Tardio | access-date= June 1, 2017}}</ref> Friend and rapper [[Papoose (rapper)|Papoose]] questions Lighty's death as suicide in the song "Obituary 2012".<ref>{{cite web| website= HipHopDX.com| url= http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.22446/title.papoose-questions-chris-lightys-suicide-on-obituary-2012-track | title= Papoose Questions Chris Lighty's Suicide On "Obituary 2012" Track| date= January 6, 2013| first= Roman |last= Cooper | access-date= June 1, 2017}}</ref>


==Notes and references==
==Notes and references==
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{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lighty, Chris}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lighty, Chris}}
[[Category:1968 births]]
[[Category:1968 births]]
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[[Category:American music industry executives]]
[[Category:American music industry executives]]
[[Category:People from the Bronx]]
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[[Category:20th-century African-American people]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American people]]
[[Category:Suicides by firearm in New York City]]
[[Category:2012 suicides]]

Revision as of 19:29, 22 July 2024

Chris Lighty
Born
Darrel Steven Lighty

(1968-05-08)May 8, 1968
The Bronx, New York City, U.S.
DiedAugust 30, 2012(2012-08-30) (aged 44)
The Bronx, New York City, U.S.
Other namesBaby Chris
OccupationRecord executive
Years active1989–2012
Musical career
GenresHip hop

Darrel[a] Steven "Chris" Lighty[3] (May 8, 1968 – August 30, 2012) was an American music industry executive. He co-founded Violator, a record label, management and marketing company, which represented hip hop and R&B artists such as Busta Rhymes, A Tribe Called Quest, Nas, Mobb Deep, Missy Elliott, LL Cool J, Noreaga, Uncle Murda, 50 Cent, Mariah Carey and Sean "Diddy" Combs.[1][3][4] The New York Times called him "one of the most powerful figures in the hip-hop business."[5]

Early life

Lighty[3] was born in the Bronx, New York City, New York, and raised in the Bronx River Housing Projects.[4][1] His mother was single. He had five siblings, including a brother, Dave.[6] He attended Samuel Gompers High School, and did not attend college, and he stated that he "got [his] MBA in hell," in reference to growing up on the streets of a dangerous neighborhood.[5]

Career

Lighty began working in the music industry by carrying vinyl record crates for DJ Red Alert.[7] Later, Russell Simmons' company, Rush Artist Management, hired him.[1] After leaving Rush, Lighty co-founded Violator Management with Mona Scott-Young in 1996;[8] the company is named after the gang he belonged to in the Bronx. Violator was responsible for getting L.L. Cool J his first Gap commercial in 1997. Lighty developed endorsements for Sprite with A Tribe Called Quest, AT&T with Diggy Simmons, and for Mountain Dew with Busta Rhymes.

In 2002, Lighty and a DJ from Chicago, DJ Scrap Dirty, created The Violator Allstar DJs. "We wanted to build a situation for the DJs who might need more muscle," Lighty remarked.[7] He appeared in the September 2004 Electronic Arts video game Def Jam: Fight for NY as himself under the moniker "Baby Chris".

Lighty worked for Def Jam, Jive and Loud Records. He was chief executive of the Brand Asset Group. In 2004, Lighty brokered the largest brand endorsement deal in hip hop to date. He was the architect of what turned out to be one of the most lucrative deals in hip hop history: rapper 50 Cent's Vitamin Water pact. When Coca-Cola paid $4.1 billion for Vitamin Water's company Glaceau three years later, 50 Cent received $100 million,[1] and Lighty received an undisclosed sum.[9]

In 2011, Lighty launched the website pleaselistentomydemo.com, which allowed new artists to submit their music online and have top music executives listen to it for a US$10 fee.[10] (The site is no longer active.)

In 2011, Violator merged with another company, Primary Wave to form Primary Violator.[5]

Personal life

Lighty married his wife Veronica in 2003. Together they had two children, daughter Deja (born 1995) as well as a son (born 2007). He also had four other children from previous relationships including daughter Tiffany (born 1995). In 2011, Veronica filed for divorce but at the time of Lighty's death, she claimed to have retracted her original request.[1]

He had reportedly been under scrutiny for income tax issues for amounts up to US$5 million, but this was resolved with the sale of a Manhattan property of his; other sums were also owed.[1]

Death

On August 30, 2012, Lighty was found dead on the patio of his South Riverdale, Bronx[1] apartment from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.[5] The New York Daily News reported that "a gun shot was heard and Lighty was found lying face-up with a 9mm pistol next to his body".[1] Forbes magazine reported that he had been involved in an argument with his wife Veronica not too long before his body was discovered.[9]

Lighty's brother and many other celebrity figures stated that they did not believe that the death was a suicide and that the family would be staging its own private independent investigation and would share any solid findings with the public.[6] Rapper 50 Cent, a client and close friend of Chris, also questioned the suicide claim; he hired a team to investigate the details of the incident, at the request of Lighty's mother.[11] Friend and rapper Papoose questions Lighty's death as suicide in the song "Obituary 2012".[12]

Notes and references

  1. ^ His passport, according to some news sources[1] and an official Brazilian source[2] (recording his visit there), indicates this spelling, although news sources have also spelled his name ending with an additional l.[3]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Kemp, Joe; Feeney, Michael J.; Samuels, Anita M.; Wills, Kerry (August 30, 2012). "Hip-hop manager Chris Lighty dead after shooting himself outside his Bronx apartment: cops". Daily News. Retrieved August 30, 2012.
  2. ^ "Diário Oficial da União" [Official Diary of the Union]. in.gov.br. Imprensa Nacional, Government of Brazil. July 13, 2010. p. 106. ISSN 1677-7042. Estrangeiro: DARREL STEVEN LIGHTY Passaporte: 442061304
  3. ^ a b c d Conley, Kirstan (August 31, 2012). "Hip-hop mogul Chris Lighty battled money, marriage woes prior to suicide: sources". New York Post.
  4. ^ a b Thomasos, Christine (August 30, 2012). "Chris Lighty's Death Shakes Hip-Hop World; Celebrities in Mourning". The Christian Post. Archived from the original on October 17, 2012. Retrieved August 30, 2012.
  5. ^ a b c d Sisario, Ben (August 30, 2012). "Chris Lighty, Manager of Hip-Hop Stars, Dies at 44". The New York Times. Retrieved August 30, 2012.
  6. ^ a b Horowitz, Steven (September 29, 2012). "Dave Lighty Speaks On His Brother Chris Lighty's Death". HipHopDX.com. Retrieved June 1, 2017.
  7. ^ a b "Violator All-Star DJ Coalition Launches". AllHipHop.com. January 14, 2004. Retrieved June 1, 2017. I started carrying crates for Red Alert.
  8. ^ Delerme, Felipe (May 8, 2013). "Personal History: Mona Scott-Young". TheFader.com. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
  9. ^ a b O'Malley Greenburg, Zack (August 30, 2012). "Hip-Hop Business Pioneer Chris Lighty Dead At 44". Forbes.
  10. ^ Osorio, Kim (May 10, 2011). "Chris Lighty Launches New Website". BET.com. Black Entertainment Television. Retrieved May 10, 2011.
  11. ^ Tardio, Andres (September 25, 2012). "50 Cent Reportedly Hires Investigators To Look Into Chris Lighty's Death". HipHopDX.com. Retrieved June 1, 2017.
  12. ^ Cooper, Roman (January 6, 2013). "Papoose Questions Chris Lighty's Suicide On "Obituary 2012" Track". HipHopDX.com. Retrieved June 1, 2017.
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