Chris Lighty, manager to rap and hip-hop icons like 50 Cent, Busta Rhymes and Mariah Carey, died Thursday in New York, according to media reports.
The New York corner's office said it had received a case involving a 44-year-old black male with the last name Lighty. However, the office will not have more information until Friday when an autopsy is performed.
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Lighty (second from the left) was the founder and head of Violator Entertainment, a management company, as well as a member of Boogie Down Productions. The company told TheWrap they had no comment at this time.
According to various music-focused news outlets and the New York Daily News citing unnamed sources, Lighty died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound on Thursday. The Daily News said a gun was recovered next to his body.
In addition to the artists he represented, Lighty worked with a bevy of other major figures in the hip-hop community, many of whom have already expressed their grief on Twitter.
New York-based rapper Fat Joe tweeted, "R.I.P CHRIS LIGHT THE MAN THAT SAVED MY LIFE!!!"
Music journalist, novelist and cultural commentator Toure posted, "Chris Lighty, smart and successful record exec, and an undeniably great guy, is dead. Self inflicted gunshot wound. Tragic."
The New York Police Department's 50th precinct, which the corner's office said was handling the case, claimed to have no information in the system.