Veteran hip-hop manager commits suicide in Spuyten Duyvil home

Hip-hop mogul Chris Lighty, 44, also known as Darrell Lighty, died Thursday morning in his Spuyten Duyvil apartment from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, according to police.

Officials said Mr. Lighty pulled the trigger at approximately 11:30 a.m., while in an argument with his ex-wife Veronica Lighty, who according to news sources divorced him last year.

Mr. Lighty was found dead inside his residence at 670 W. 232nd St. with a 9-mm pistol next to his body, according to police.

Mariah Carey, LL Cool J, 50 Cent, Sean “Diddy” Combs and Busta Rhymes were just a few of the hip-hop careers Mr. Lighty helped introduce to the mainstream music scene while serving as chief executive of Violator Entertainment, a music firm based out of New York that specializes in the management of hip-hop and R&B artists. Mr. Rhymes was spotted on the scene sporadically entering and exiting a silver Rolls Royce Phantom.

“[Busta] ain’t in the mood to do no talkin’,” said a man who appeared to be Mr. Rhymes’ bodyguard.

On top of being in the midst of a divorce with his wife of eight years, Mr. Lighty was also facing financial trouble. He owed about $5 million to the IRS, according to news sources.

Many people who appeared to be close friends and family of Mr. Lighty's went to great lengths to conceal details regarding the hip-hop entrepreneur’s death.

At around 3 p.m., Mr. Lighty’s body was transported to a van of the medical examiner. But his entourage held up unfolded cardboard boxes and sheets in an attempt to block photographs from being taken.

An unidentified woman wailed hysterically behind a black and white sheet as the body was removed from the apartment. Other friends stood in the driveway, crying as they consoled each other.

Mr. Lighty’s death has shaken many players in the entertainment industry.

Bronx rapper Fat Joe tweeted, “R.I.P. CHRIS LIGHTY THE MAN THAT SAVED MY LIFE!!!”

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