Chris Lighty Suicide Shocks Hip-hop Community

Chris Lighty's suicide has caused a mass of tributes from the hip-hop community, reports The New York Daily News.

The hip-hop entrepreneur, mogul and manager of the stars was found dead by his pool with a pistol in his hand yesterday, and reports suggest that he and his estranged wife had been arguing heavily before his tragic death. "It's just devastating," said Dan Charnas, who wrote on Lighty in his book, The Big Payback: The History of the Business of Hip-Hop. "He was the personification of hip hop's growth into the world," continued the author. "He wasn't on the straight and narrow" but "learned to restrain whatever demons he had. Maybe in the end his circumstances weakened his restraints." Lighty, 44, was a long-time manager of 50 Cent, Diddy, Ja Rule and Mariah Carey, and despite alleged fiscal concerns, was worth an estimated $30m.

Many of the stars he worked with or knew took to twitter to pay their respects. Their tributes are below:

"In shock," tweeted Sean (Diddy) Combs. "R.I.P. Chris Lighty."

"Rest peacefully Chris Lighty, my prayers go out to family and loved ones! Dear God please have mercy," - Rihanna.

"R.I.P. CHRIS LIGHTY THE MAN THAT SAVED MY LIFE," - Fat Joe posted. "I Would Be Nothing Without YOU!!! My Kids Appreciate YOU God Bless Chris Lighty."

"I'm devastated right now. I can't believe my big brother Chris Lighty is gone . . . He was a pioneer, a mentor, and a great friend." - Nick Cannon.

"I am utterly, utterly devastated," said hip-hop activist Harry Allen. "It feels unfair to us. He was our wealth. Chris was like the fruition of all that could be. He was loved."