Virginia rapper Magoo dies at age 50 The rapper, an early collaborator with the producer Timbaland, emerged from a Virginia Seaside rap crew that produced a number of future superstars. Like hip-hop itself, he was 50 years outdated.
Virginia rapper Magoo dies at age 50
The rapper, an early collaborator with the producer Timbaland, emerged from a Virginia Seaside rap crew that produced a number of future superstars. Like hip-hop itself, he was 50 years outdated.
JUANA SUMMERS, HOST:
Typically gifted individuals have a approach of discovering one another. Take the rap duo Timbaland and Magoo.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “UP JUMPS DA BOOGIE”)
MAGOO: (Rapping) I fiend for all beats like ladies leap for methods.
SUMMERS: Their largest single was “Up Jumps Da Boogie” in 1997, although their collaboration began lengthy earlier than that.
AILSA CHANG, HOST:
Melvin Barcliff, or Magoo, and Timothy Mosley, then referred to as DJ Timmy Tim, met in highschool within the space close to Virginia Seaside, Va.
SUMMERS: Talking of expertise discovering one another, as youngsters, their associates within the area included a younger Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, quickly to be referred to as the Neptunes, and the multitalented Missy Elliott.
CHANG: Finally, Timbaland and Magoo discovered themselves attempting to crack into music in New York Metropolis. Magoo says he helped persuade his longtime good friend to type a rap duo collectively.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
MAGOO: Tim needed to be a producer. I talked him into being an artist not simply as a good friend, however I at all times thought Tim was totally different and particular.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “LUV 2 LUV U”)
TIMBALAND: (Rapping) Dance with me. Yeah. Tango with me.
SUMMERS: That is Magoo talking to an oral historian for the William & Mary Digital Archive in 2013. Now, Timbaland, in fact, went on to turn into a star producer in hip-hop, R&B and pop music. Magoo made a couple of extra information along with his good friend however uninterested in the highlight and stepped again from the music enterprise.
CHANG: However in 2013, he stated that ranging from the second he heard his first rap tune on the age of 6 or 7, it will have his consideration for the remainder of his life.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
MAGOO: Rap is definitely a communication similar to the information within the newspaper, but it surely’s extra vivid and extra uncooked and extra direct and extra true.
SUMMERS: Melvin “Magoo” Barcliff died final weekend, his household confirmed to The New York Occasions. On Instagram, Timbaland shared a tribute video and wrote, Tim and Magoo eternally. Relaxation simple, my king. Like hip-hop itself, Magoo was 50 years outdated.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “LUV 2 LUV U”)
MAGOO: (Singing) Love to like to like you, love you, love you. Ooh. Love to like to like you, love you, love you.
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