earsucker

Remember that bit in Notorious B.I.G’s song “Juicy” that mentions “Every Saturday Rap Attack Mr. Magic Marley Marl”? He was referring to Mr. Magic AKA John Rivas, the man who almost singlehandedly made Hip Hop music mainstream.

Magic, whose real name was John Rivas, co-founded WBLS-FM’s Rap Attack radio show in 1983 and helped inspire budding stars like Notorious B.I.G. and Nas with early East Coast rhymes. Rap Attack went off the air in 1989, but Magic remained influential.

Rap Attack debuted in 1983 on WBLS with Mr. Magic and his sidekick Marley Marl. It’s a sad day for Hip Hop.

RIP Mr. Magic.