RIP August 30th, 2012 - 4:29 pm | Posted by Juicy Magazine Intern

RIP: Hip Hop Vet Chris Lighty…

CHRIS LIGHTY, founder of Violator Management, was found dead in his Bronx apartment of an apparent suicide.

LIGHTY began his career as a road manager for Boogie Down Productions and managed the careers of pioneering hip-hop group, A TRIBE CALLED QUEST.

In 1988, LIGHTY began working at RUSSELL SIMMONS‘ Rush Management, where he was responsible for securing endorsement deals and tours for Def Jam recording artists.

LIGHTY eventually branched out on his own and created Violator Management, where he managed the careers of: JA RULE, MARIAH CAREY, BUSTA RHYMES, FOXY BROWN, MARIAH CAREY, NAS, LL COOL J and many others.

Last September, Violator Management merged with Primary Wave to create Primary Violator management company.

News of LIGHTY’s death hit Twitter earlier today and was then confirmed by the New York Daily News.

According to the New York Daily News:

“Hip-hop mogul Chris Lighty died Thursday morning after he shot himself during an argument with his ex-wife inside his Bronx apartment, sources told the Daily News.

Lighty, 44 — a longtime manager of 50 Cent, Diddy, Ja Rule and Mariah Carey — put a gun to his head and fired after a spat with his former wife, Veronica, inside the South Riverdale apartment about 11:30 a.m., police sources said.

Law enforcement sources said Lighty — who divorced his wife last year — may have been dealing with financial struggles, including owing about $5 million to the IRS.”

We here at Juicy, send our sincerest condolences and deepest sympathies to the family and friends of CHRIS LIGHTY.

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