Veteran hip-hop mogul Chris Lighty was found dead in his Bronx apartment Thursday (Aug. 30) morning. The 44-year-old reportedly died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound during an argument with his ex-wife. Lighty’s name may not be immediately familiar, but he has been a key figure in hip-hop, serving as the manager for A Tribe Called Quest early in his career. He later started Violator Management, where he represented 50 Cent, Diddy, Mariah Carey and Soulja Boy (who earlier today tweeted ”R.I.P my manager Chris Lighty, I know you’re in a better place”). Lighty was a driving force in getting hip-hop stars major endorsement deals, and was integral in landing partnerships between LL Cool J and the Gap, and Busta Rhymes and Sprite.
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