(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Heavy D went to see his doctor just hours before he died in an apparent recognition that something was wrong with him.

The rapper died yesterday at the age of 44 after collapsing at his Beverly Hills home.

Tributes have been pouring in for the hip hop legend from the music industry and wider afield for the much loved performer.

"He had gone to the doctor the day before," Ed Winter, Assistant Chief of the Los Angeles County Coroner's office told the Daily News. "He had what appeared to be flu-like symptoms."

Heavy weighed 344 pounds at the time of his death it was confirmed and was on medication but investigators want to do toxicology tests before releasing a preliminary cause of death.

Real name, Dwight Arrington Myers, Heavy had returned home from a shopping trip when he started to have trouble breathing and was rushed to hospital. He died less than an hour later.

"He had a touch of pneumonia, maybe from travelling. He just got back from England," his cousin Ruddy Phillips said.

Heavy was best known for his 90s hit Now That We Found Love and for writing the theme song for television series In Living Color.

He also appeared in several movies including current flick Tower Heist starring Eddie Murphy and Ben Stiller. (C) Cover Media