Hip Hop Mogul Chris Lighty Dies in Apparent Suicide

08/30/2012 •

Sad day in hiphop! Chris Lighty a pioneer in the game committed suicide early this AM. You never know what someone is going through. All I can do is send my prayers to anyone reading this that’s going through. I personally experienced a very difficult period in my life these past few years. But GOD has blessed me and made me realize the storm doesn’t last forever. Finally seeing my rainbow and I’m thankful.

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

Lighty, 44 — a longtime manager of 50 Cent, Diddy, Ja Rule and Mariah Carey — stepped outside his South Riverdale apartment about 11:30 a.m., after a spat with his wife, Veronica, police sources said.

Suddenly, a gun shot was heard and Lighty was found lying faceup with a 9-mm. pistol next to his body, sources said

Law enforcement sources said Lighty — whose wife filed for divorce last year — may have been dealing with financial struggles, including owing about $5 million to the IRS.

Lighty, founder of Violator Management, merged with another talent company to form Primary Violator around the time of his divorce.

Musicians began Tweeting about Lighty soon after news of his death spread.

“R.I.P CHRIS LIGHTY THE MAN THAT SAVED MY LIFE!!!” Bronx rapper Fat Joe posted on Twitter. “I Would Be Nothing Without YOU!!! My Kids Appreciate YOU God Bless Chris Lighty.”