Hip-Hop mogul Chris Lighty has passed away this morning, from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. According to the New York Daily News, police found a gun next to him in his South Riverdale apartment at around 11:30 am.
Law enforcement sources said Lighty — who divorced his wife, Veronica, last year — may have been dealing with financial struggles, including owing about $5 million to the IRS.
In the past, Chris Lighty has ran Violator Management which helped launch the careers of G-Unit, Foxy Brown, Missy Elliott as well as managing Diddy, Swizz Beatz, Three 6 Mafia, Mobb Deep and Mariah Carey to name a few.
Growing up, along with Russell Simmons and a few others, Chris was a person I looked up watching his entrepreneurial & management skills that helped him become successful in a crazy industry and still keep intact his private life shying away from the limelight. Though not always in the public eye, I always kept tabs and watched the business moves he made in the past to give me guidance for something I would hope to do one day.
Our condolences and prayers go out to the Lighty family.
[Source]