Coroner: Heavy D Died of Pulmonary Embolism

Rap legend died after developing a blood clot that blocked an artery in his lung

We now know what killed Heavy D.

Preliminary results from an autopsy conducted on the "Big Tyme" rapper reveal his untimely Nov. 8 death at the age of 44 was caused by a pulmonary embolism, E! News has learned.

The Los Angeles County Coroner's Office confirmed that Heavy D, real name Dwight Arrington Myers, died after suffering from a deep vein thrombosis, in which a blood clot in the leg traveled to his lung and blocked a main artery, resulting in the pulmonary embolism.

The condition is often associated with flying, and shortly before he passed away the hip-hopster had reportedly seen a doctor for a persistent cough he developed after a recent trip to London. He had also performed at the Michael Jackson tribute concert on Oct. 8 in Cardiff, Wales.

Another contributing factor was heart disease, which caused his artery walls to thicken due to high cholesterol.

The coroner ruled the manner of death as "natural" and said toxicology tests showed that prescription medicine the performer may have been taking was not a factor.

A final autopsy report will be released within two weeks.