Mannen bakom artister som 50 Cent, Busta Rhymes, LL Cool J, Diamond D och många fler avled på torsdagen efter ett förmodat självmord.

Chris Lighty har under många år varit en av musikbranschens mest aktade namn då han grundade management-bolaget Violator Entertainment under 1990-talet och nådde stora framgångar. Lighty började i musikbranschen som springpojke åt legendariska DJ Red Alert och gjorde sig snart ett namn som rappare i gruppen The Violators och medverkade på Black Sheeps album från 1991. Han samarbetade nära med Native Tongues-crewet och agerande hjälpande hand till De La Soul och A Tribe Called Quest och arbetade även med Russell Simmons och Lyor Cohen under Rush Management. Namnet Violator följde dock med in i 2000-talet och Chris Lighty skapade bolaget Violator Management och blev ansvarig för artister som Foxxy Brown, Busta Rhymes, 50 Cent och LL Cool J. Efter många framgångsrika år bildade Lighty så sent som förra året ett nytt bolag när Violator gick ihop med konkurrenten Primary Wave och blev Primary Violator.

Enligt uppgifter i flera medier ska Chris Lighty ha tagit sitt liv med en pistol hemma i sin lägenhet i Bronx, New York. Händelsen ska ha inträffat efter en diskussion med sin före detta fru som han låg i skilsmässa med samt att Lighty ska även ha dragits med stora skatteskulder. Chris Lighty blev 44 år gammal.

UPDATE:

50 Cent som befinner sig Europa för att marknadsföra hörlurarna SMS By 50 släppte under morgonen ett uttalande:

“I am deeply saddened by the loss of my dear friend and business partner Chris Lighty. Chris has been an important part of my business and personal growth for a decade. He was a good friend and advisor who helped me develop as an artist and businessman. My prayers are with his family. He will be greatly missed.”

Se några andra reaktioner från Twitter och Facebook av artister och profiler i branschen nedan:

Rev Run: R I P to the kindest guy Chris Lighty. Thank you for being a manager to Diggy & a part of our family.. You are loved & will be missed

Diddy: R.I.P. Chris Lighty. He Was A Dear Friend Of Mine And I Still Can’t Believe It.

John Legend: RIP Chris Lighty. Hip-hop visionary.

Kelly Price: Chris Lighty was a power player in this business. PLEASE lets see that we ALL need love, support and encouragement. WE HAVE2HOLDEACHOTHERUP

?uestlove: Man, I’m really sorry about Chris Lighty. Such a nice guy to me & my band. May God rest his soul. Peace to his family.

Big Sean: RIP Chris Lighty. my condolences to the family and loved ones.

Yo Gotti: R.I.P 2 My Manager CHRIS LIGHTY

Brandy: R.I.P. Chris Lighty! This is such a shock:( My heart goes out to his family and friends.

Diggy Simmons: Still in shock.. More than just my manager but my family. Love you and gonna miss you Chris. R.I.P

Keyshia Cole: Sad at the amount of influential people we’re losing to suicide!!!!! Damn man!!! Come on!!!

Jay Electronica: this C.Lighty news really saddens me at the core. Peace on him and his loved ones.

Talib Kweli: Rest in peace Chris Lighty. Your words and your vision are constant inspiration to me. Forever.

Ameriie: God bless Chris Lighty and his family…rest in peace.

Soulja Boy: R.I.P my manager Chris Lighty, I know you’re in a better place. this shit got me so fucked up big bro we just talked on the phone 2 days ago

Nicki Minaj: Another tragic & inconceivable loss for the culture. #RIPChrisLighty

Rihanna: Rest peacefully Chris Lighty, my prayers go out to family and loved ones! Dear God please have mercy

Marsha Ambrosius: RIP Chris Lighty. Prayers to family and loved ones.

Big Boi: RIP Chris Lighty

DJ Khaled: R.I.P chris lighty!! Chris is hip hop, a friend & a gr8 person! When I came in the game he acknowledged me from the beginning & aspired 4 me 2 B gr8! Chris always wanted 2 help everyone! & did! Much luv 2 the family & my prayers R w/ them!

Monica: Another tragic loss!! God Bless the Lighty Fam,My heart aches. RIP Chris

Leah LaBelle: RIP Chris Lighty… it saddens my heart so intensely that this industry drive us to pain. we seriously need to do better. we can.

Childish Gambino: rest in peace Chris Lighty. thank you for everything

Ludacris: R.I.P. Chris Lightly who always had the best energy every time I had an encounter with him. He will be missed

Chuck D: R I P Chris Lighty SMH to the mongrels that have made the BLACKmusic industry a depressing game to drag such good cats into a pit of bullsht

Pusha T: Rest in Peace @clighty this is terrible news!!

Game: R.I.P. to my old friend “Chris Lighty”. Tragedy has once again struck the music industry & this time it hit close to home. Chris was a good dude, honestly…. A father, husband, mogul & a great business man. May his soul rest & many condolensces to his immediate family & children. Love

Nick Cannon: I’m devastated right now. I can’t believe my big brother Chris Lighty is gone… He was a pioneer, a mentor, and a great friend RIP

Fat Joe: I Would Be Nothing Without YOU!!! My Kids Appreciate YOU God Bless Chris Lighty

LoLa Monroe: Aww mann R.I.P Chris Lightly..so sad

Ciara: So Sad, and Truly Unbelievable:(..May Chris Lighty Rest In Peace…