You know that feeling. The bass drops, those synthesized horns kick in, and suddenly everyone—from your aunt to the most cynical hip-hop head—is on their feet. It’s infectious. Now That We Found Love Heavy D and the Boyz didn't just climb the charts in 1991; it basically redefined what a crossover hit could look like.
It was a moment.
Heavy D, the "Overweight Lover," was already a respected figure in the New York scene, but this track sent him into the stratosphere. People forget how risky this move actually was at the time. Hip-hop was getting harder, grittier, and more political with the rise of N.W.A and Public Enemy. Then comes Hev, dancing in a colorful suit, sampling a disco-reggae cover of an O'Jays song, and working with Teddy Riley. It shouldn't have worked. It should have been "too pop."
Instead, it became legendary.
The New Jack Swing Connection That Changed Everything
You can't talk about this song without talking about Teddy Riley. He was the architect of New Jack Swing, that specific blend of hip-hop beats and R&B smoothness. By the time 1991 rolled around, Riley was the hottest producer on the planet. He took the bones of the 1978 Third World version of the song and injected it with pure adrenaline.
The tempo is fast. Like, really fast for a rap song. It clocks in at around 120 BPM, which is closer to house music than traditional boom-bap. That was the secret sauce. It bridged the gap between the club kids and the radio listeners.
Heavy D's flow on the track is a masterclass in breath control. Go back and listen to the second verse. He’s layering rhymes at a breakneck pace without ever losing his "cool" persona. He isn't yelling. He’s just gliding over the beat.
"Now that we found love what are we gonna do with it?"
The hook, sung by Aaron Hall of the group Guy, provides that raw, soulful energy that makes the chorus explode. Hall's voice is grainy and powerful, a perfect counterpoint to Heavy D’s smooth, conversational bars.
Why This Particular Cover Mattered
Most people don't realize Now That We Found Love Heavy D and the Boyz is actually a cover of a cover. The O'Jays did the original in 1973 as a mid-tempo soul track. Then the reggae band Third World turned it into a disco-fied reggae anthem in '78.
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Hev and Teddy Riley took the Third World version—which was already a massive hit in the Caribbean and the UK—and "New York-ified" it. They kept the island soul but added the Harlem swing.
It was a brilliant move. It appealed to the massive West Indian population in New York while capturing the mainstream American audience. Honestly, it was one of the first truly global hip-hop records.
Breaking Down the Music Video Magic
If you close your eyes and think of this song, you see the video.
The bright colors. The synchronized dancing. The Boyz (G-Whiz and "Trouble" T. Roy, though T. Roy had tragically passed away before the video for this specific album's cycle reached its peak, his influence remained).
Heavy D proved that you didn't have to be skinny to be a sex symbol or a lead dancer. He moved with a grace that defied his size. It was empowering. In an era where rappers were often expected to stand still and look tough, Hev was doing full-blown choreography.
The video, directed by Drew Dixon, was on constant rotation on MTV and Video Music Box. It helped establish the "Big Willie" era aesthetic before Puffy and Ma$e ever donned a shiny suit.
The Tragedy Behind the Triumph
It’s impossible to discuss the success of the Peaceful Journey album without mentioning the death of "Trouble" T. Roy (Troy Dixon). He died in a freak accident in 1990 while the group was on tour.
The grief was everywhere.
Now That We Found Love Heavy D and the Boyz served as a bittersweet pivot. The album was dedicated to him, and you can feel that "celebration of life" energy throughout the track. It wasn't just a party song; it was a way to keep going. Pete Rock, who was C.L. Smooth’s partner and T. Roy’s best friend, even produced some of the other tracks on the album. The industry was tight-knit back then.
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The Technical Brilliance of the Mix
Let’s get technical for a second.
The drum programming on this track is incredibly "bright." In the early 90s, many hip-hop tracks were muffled or bass-heavy to the point of distortion. Teddy Riley made sure every snare hit felt like a whip crack.
- The Bassline: It follows the Third World melody but uses a more aggressive synth patch.
- The Layering: If you listen with headphones, there are dozens of tiny vocal ad-libs from Heavy D buried in the mix. "Keep it movin'," "Yeah," "Check it."
- The Dynamics: The song doesn't just stay at one level. It builds. The bridge where the music strips back to just the beat and the "What are we gonna do?" chant is a classic tension-and-release tactic.
It’s a "busy" record, but it never feels cluttered. That’s the hallmark of a genius producer at the top of his game.
The Legacy: From 1991 to 2026
Why are we still talking about this?
Because it’s bulletproof.
You can play this at a wedding in 2026 and the teenagers will dance. You can play it at a club in Berlin and people will lose it. It has outlived the "New Jack Swing" genre itself.
While other songs from that era sound dated because of their specific drum machine sounds (looking at you, U Can't Touch This), the soul at the heart of the Heavy D version keeps it fresh.
It also paved the way for the "Gentleman Rapper." Without Heavy D, do we get Biggie Smalls calling himself the "Black Frank White" or being a "Big Poppa"? Probably not. Hev showed that you could be a big man, talk about love, dance, and still keep your respect in the streets. He was the "Overweight Lover," and he owned it.
Common Misconceptions
People often think this was Heavy D's first big hit. It wasn't. He already had We Got Our Own Thang and Somebody For Me. But this was his global hit.
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Another mistake? Thinking it was just a "pop" song. If you strip away the singing, the rapping is incredibly technical. Heavy D was a lyricist first. He just happened to have a great ear for melodies.
Also, many younger fans think the song is called "Now That We Found Love" by Third World. While they made it famous in the 70s, the 90s version is the one that defined the digital age's understanding of the hook.
How to Appreciate the Track Today
If you want to really "get" why this song matters, don't just stream it on your phone speakers.
- Find the 12" Club Version: The extended mix has a breakdown that shows off the production nuances much better than the radio edit.
- Watch the Live Performances: Look up Heavy D performing this on The Arsenio Hall Show or In Living Color. The energy is unmatched.
- Listen to the Lyrics: Beyond the hook, listen to how he talks about respect and positivity. It was a "Peaceful Journey," after all.
The song is a reminder of a time when hip-hop felt expansive and inclusive. It wasn't about "us vs. them." It was about the groove.
Actionable Insights for Music Lovers
To truly integrate the vibe of this era into your own playlist or musical knowledge, start by exploring the rest of the Peaceful Journey album. It’s not just a one-hit-wonder project. Check out "Is It Good To You," which also features that signature Teddy Riley swing.
If you're a DJ or a producer, study the transition between the 110 BPM New Jack Swing and the 120 BPM House-adjacent rap of this era. It’s a goldmine for understanding how to move a crowd across different genres.
Lastly, pay attention to the "Heavy D influence" in modern artists like Drake or Anderson .Paak. The ability to switch between a hard rap flow and a melodic sensibility started right here with the Overweight Lover.
Heavy D passed away in 2011, but every time that horn riff starts, he’s back. And honestly, we're all still trying to figure out what to do with all that love.
Next Steps for the Deep Diver:
- Listen to the original 1973 version by The O'Jays to hear the song's soulful roots.
- Compare the drum patterns of "Now That We Found Love" with Wreckx-n-Effect's "Rump Shaker" to see Teddy Riley's evolution.
- Check out the Peaceful Journey liner notes to see the incredible list of collaborators that helped Heavy D create his magnum opus.