We Remember: Mr. Magic – New York Hip Hop Icon & Radio Legend

We remember pioneering radio icon Mr. Magic

These days, the hip-hop DJ is considered an afterthought — a common-place afterthought, but an afterthought nonetheless. He is an ancillary member of the “clique,” easily replaceable and considered superfluous, and thanks to the digital revolution, the DJ is often seen as just someone who pushes a few buttons and gets a party started.

But at the dawn of the hip hop era, there was one DJ who broke countless records, helped expose rap to the world and who was the main catalyst behind one of the first-ever “rap battles” that would become the cornerstone of subsequent competitive and entertaining beefs in the genre.

Before Funkmaster Flex… before DJ Clue… before DJ Whoo Kid… there was Mr. Magic.

John Rivas, better known as the titular Mr. Magic, was the first man to have a hip hop mixshow on the radio. His show was first aired on WHBI-FM 96.3 (now WXNY-FM, a Spanish-language radio station) in 1981. It was called Rap Attack and also featured Marley Marl (the Juice Crew DJ/producer who himself helped launch hip hop’s Golden Era) and was co-produced by Tyrone “Fly Ty” Williams (manager for The Juice Crew). In 1983, the show premiered on WBLS-FM (107.5 on the FM dial), and became a hip-hop mainstay.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QojxG6xq2gU]

The show continued on for another six years, during which time, Mr. Magic had an ongoing “beef” with Kool DJ Red Alert, who had his own similar rap show on WRKS (also known as “Kiss FM,” featured at 98.7 on the FM dial. The station is now ESPN Radio).

The feud subsequently played out, in proxy, between two purportedly rival rap groups: Mr. Magic’s Juice Crew (featuring Kool G Rap, Big Daddy Kane, Biz Markie, DJ Polo, and Grand Daddy I.U., among others), and Red Alert’s Boogie Down Productions (featuring D-Nice, Scott La Rock — who would be later killed in 1987 — and of course, KRS One).

This beef between the two factions would later be dubbed The Bridge Wars, spawning some now-classic rhymes.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfDSCV1t1R4&w=420&h=315]

But this beef, unlike the subsequent ones that would come during the rise of “gangsta rap,” seemed to be more in the spirit of artistic competition. Fun, even. In the end, it served to promote both factions, their respective boroughs, and firmly established New York as not only the birthplace of hip hop, but the Mecca of its music.

After Rap Attack’s run, Mr. Magic would take his talents along with Fly Ty over to the city’s rap powerhouse Hot 97, renaming his show “The Classic Showcase.” This time, he broke another young DJ named Mister Cee. Mister Cee was already known as Big Daddy Kane’s DJ, but he would also go down in history as the man to launch the career of Biggie Smalls.

The pioneering radio personality Mr. Magic was made immortal after Nas name-checked him in the song “Half-Time” in 1992.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wbq3axLwamE&w=420&h=315]

In 1994, The Notorious B.I.G. name-checked the DJ in his classic track, “Juicy.”

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JZom_gVfuw&w=420&h=315]

And in 1995, Tupac name-checked him in the track, “Old School.”

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amvjP7TDhNk&w=420&h=315]

Yet, throughout all the name checking, Mr. Magic remained eager to share his knowledge with aspiring rappers, whether it be by teaching them the game proper, or hooking them up with situations (like internships at Hot 97) to learn the game from the best in the business. And why wouldn’t he — it was he, really, who pioneered the game of rap on the radio.

In 2002, Mr. Magic made his last public industry move when he loaned his voice to Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, as himself, a DJ on one of the in-game radio stations.

Unfortunately, the greats are never allowed to be with us forever. On October 2, 2009, Mr. Magic died of a heart attack. He was only 53 years old.

If you’ve ever enjoyed hip hop on the radio, it’s only right to pay tribute to this amazing man. Rest in power, Mr. Magic.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81E9O9_REAg]