Hip hop community comes out to pay their respects.
Members of the hip hop community congregated at the Frank E. Campbell Funeral Chapel in New York City to pay their final respects to deceased mogul Chris Lighty today.
Wyclef Jean, Russell Simmons, Lauryn Hill, Diddy and 50 Cent were just some of the stars who attended the services in honor of the Violator Management chief, 44, who died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound on August 30.
“You were the light in a lot of lives,” Busta Rhymes said to the crowd of mourners. “It ain’t no coincidence that your last name was Lighty.”
LL Cool J added, “he grew up to be in so many ways a true leader in our hip hop world. We didn’t thank him enough. I know I didn’t.”
Lighty's two daughters, 17-year-old Tiffany and 16-year-old Deja, were visibly emotional throughout the ceremony. “I know my dad was a popular guy,” Deja said of the large assembly of rap luminaries.
His wife Veronica Lighty was also in attendance but didn't speak. Earlier this week, she addressed speculation that a fight with her husband lead to his alleged suicide, flatly denying the rumors. “We had a passionate relationship,” she explained to the New York Daily News. “We fought all the time.” Veronica had filed for divorce last year, but called off the proceedings on Father's Day this past June. It has also been suggested that Lighty's money woes, including a $5 million debt to the IRS, lead to his suicide.
Our thoughts are with Lighty's family during their difficult time.
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