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The Bronx, N.Y. native got his start carrying crates for DJ Red Alert, which lead to a position at Russell Simmons and Lyor Cohen's Rush Management in 1988.
He went on to found Violator management, an empire that has represented everyone from old school Rush artists like LL Cool J to moguls like 50 Cent and Diddy.
While reports are vague at this point, it appears that Lighty, whose wife filed for divorce in 2011, was under great duress.
R I P Chris Lighty SMH to the mongrels that have made the BLACKmusic industry a depressing game to drag such good cats into a pit of bullsht
- Chuck D (@MrChuckD) August 30, 2012
hard to believe it is true but RIP to my friend Chris Lighty. gone too soon
- Scooter Braun (@scooterbraun) August 30, 2012
Chris Lighty, Thank you for helping some of the Worlds greatest entertainers to be heard & seen over the years, long live your legacy.
- Sway (@SwayUK) August 30, 2012#RIP
R.I.P CHRIS LIGHTY THE MAN THAT SAVED MY LIFE!!!
- FAT JOE (@fatjoe) August 30, 2012
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