Violator Management Founder Dies

Chris Lighty, founder of Violator Management and longtime manager of 50 Cent and other leading hip-hop artists, died Aug. 30 of a reported self-inflicted gunshot.

He was found in his Bronx, New York, apartment, sources told the New York Daily News.

In addition to introducing 50 Cent to the music world, Lighty managed Ja Rule and Mariah Carey, and had a hand in discovering many others.

Lighty reportedly was struggling financially at the time of his death, and had divorced last year. As news of his death spread, artists took to Twitter expressing shock and condolences.

Photo: AP Photo

File photo depicting the hip-hop mogul in his New York City office.

“R.I.P., Chris Lighty that man saved my life,” Fat Joe tweeted. Chuck D responded angrily to the news, tweeting “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.”