Mr. Magic Dies
By Michael on October 3, 2009 in main
Mr. Magic died October 2, aged 53.
Mr. Magic, born John Rivas, was the first to play hip-hop on the radio. The year was 1983. The city -- New York, on the station WBLS-FM. Although he was a producer and performer in his own right (check out Third Unheard on Stones Throw Records), he is best known as the man who brought Hip-hop to the airwaves, and henceforth to the mainstream.
Even if you don't know his name, you might recognize him as the voice for Grand Theft Auto’s rap channel “Wildstyle.” Thereby extending his dominion over hip-hop for a whole new digital generation.
Read his obit in the New York Times.
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R.I.P.