Mr. Magic, RIP

About 1:20 in: a brief snapshot of The Official Voice of Hip-Hop, Sir Juice, in his prime. So smooth, and - to paraphrase the slogan of the station that employed him most famously - in a class by himself. I'll always remember what Harry Allen wrote about Mr. Magic's Rap Attack in his NY-area radio round-up in the Voice's great 1988 "Hip-Hop Nation" overview. Cited on the plus side was, "Magic's knowledge of the music and his attitude"; heading up the negatives, of course, "Magic's attitude." So apropos given the man's commanding presence and style over the airwaves, and his role at the center of any number of legendary hip-hop beefs (e.g. Juice Crew vs. BDP; Magic vs. P.E.; Magic vs. Kane ["You start hallucinatin' like Magic/ The wrath gets tragic, but Kane won't have it"]). Eventually, though, as the controversies - along with his status as rap radio's bad guy - faded (e.g. Nas: "I got to have it/ I miss Mr. Magic"), the indisputable historical facts remained. Mr. Magic was the first ever broadcast DJ to play hip-hop on the radio anywhere (buying his own airtime for $75 an hour on the Saturday night/Sunday morning 2-4am shift on WHBI). He pioneered this. 

SHR and I once enjoyed the honor of appearing on Magic and Fly Ty's show on WLIB, I believe it was, when we were promoting the Rap Lists book (to which Magic contributed a great interview/list). And it was the thrill of a lifetime, speaking to that voice over NYC's airwaves. Earlier today Mister Cee put together a really nice Mr. Magic tribute on his Throwback at Noon show. If you missed it you can download it here (link courtesy Eclipse). Super Rockin' Mr. Magic, thank you. Rest in Peace.