When Will Hip Hop Have Its Own Healthcare Reform?

Patrice O'Neal, Rick Ross and Erick Sermon are all cases for more health examinations

Sirius XM radio show comedian Patrice O'Neal died this week after a battle with diabetes. He reportedly suffered a stroke a month ago that destabilized both his speech and movement before he ultimately succumbed to death. The details of rapper Heavy D.’s death still aren’t completely known, but the passing of the self-proclaimed “Overweight Lover” rang yet another siren for graying Hip Hop heads to adopt healthy lifestyles and demand regular healthcare.

In other health-related Hip Hop news, rapper and producer Erick Sermon is recovering from a heart attack, and the newest member of the overweight-lover club, Rick Ross, suffered two seizures last month. Rappers these days are sick -- in a bad way. The recent trend of heart attacks and seizures are bringing new meaning to “illmatic.”  So, who will step up to battle the stigma associated with going to a physician?

Peace and love to Heavy D. who reportedly lost 150 pounds before his death. And much respect to Fat Joe who lost 100 pounds and is now encouraging others to reconsider "fat," by any spelling. Yet, how many rappers do you see trying to cover their obesity with swag? Oversized clothing isn’t just about style. Your once favorite hyper-masculine, jailhouse-strong rapper now has more boobs than Dolly Parton.

There’s not enough material to cover black men’s unhealthy lifestyles, which includes too much saturated fats, sugar, alcohol and smoke. Aside from the “take your shirt off” rappers like L.L. Cool J, Hip Hop artists are in need of trainers, an Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and dieticians. KRS-ONE once called for the recording industry to supply health insurance for rappers, and while that's needed, it's not enough. If rappers can glorify fattening their pockets, then they can also glorify de-fattening their waists and bellies.