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Rest In Peace: GTA: Vice City DJ and Hip-Hop Pioneer Mr. Magic
Hip-hop is a global business today, and unfortunately a lot of the people that worked so hard for so long to make it so have been written out of its history.
One of those men died today, Mr. Magic (John Rivas). He died of a heart attack today. His age was unknown.
Gamers know Mr. Magic as the DJ on the Wildstyle Pirate Radio station in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, but he is a legend in the hip-hop community and basically responsible for bringing hip-hop to the airwaves in the early ‘80s. Along with co-host Tyrone “Fly Ty” Williams, "Mr. Magic’s Rap Attack" was the first show that exclusively played rap music on air in a major urban market.
He discovered producer Marley Marl (best known for his production on the album Mama Said Knock You Out by LL Cool J) and help found the Juice Crew, which featured such legendary rappers as Kool G. Rap, Big Daddy Kane, Roxanne Shanté, Craig G, and Masta Ace.
He will be missed.
Here is a video for Whodini's "Magic's Wand" a tribute to Mr. Magic's then-popular show, which was featured on the Vice City soundtrack.
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