By Jayson Rodriguez

"Every Saturday 'Rap Attack,' Mr. Magic, Marley Marl ..." — Notorious B.I.G., "Juicy"

Biggie immortalized him in rhyme, but by the time the Brooklyn MC name-checked Mr. Magic on 1994's Ready to Die, the DJ was already a living legend. It was confirmed today that Mr. Magic passed away after suffering a heart attack. (At press time it was unknown how old he was.)

Magic, born John Rivas, was a pioneer in hip-hop and made his mark as the first DJ to host a mixshow hour on commercial radio, which was revolutionary in the early 1980s but as common as a rap CD with a "Parental Advisory" sticker on it today. Back in 1982 when Mr. Magic, along with Marley Marl as his DJ and Tyrone "Fly Ty" Williams as co-producer, kick-started "Rap Attack," the program's launch was arguably as significant to music history as when the Moonman planted the MTV flag in outer space.

"Rap Attack" was a cultural touchstone fondly remembered by countless rappers, breakdancers, journalists and fans who were transfixed by the early sounds of hip-hop transmitted through their speakers by Mr. Magic.

Aside from the musical nods ("Juicy" and Whodini's "Magic's Wand"), Magic was also known for his part in the watershed battle between the Juice Crew — founded by Marley Marl and featuring Big Daddy Kane, Craig G. and Kool G Rap — and KRS-One's Boogie Down Productions.
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I was stuck in San Antonio International Airport for two hours on Sunday, on my way back to New York from covering the Sacrifice of the Nazarene Child Festival, and whom do I bump into in the waiting area? Curtis Sliwa, anti-crime activist, founder of the Guardian Angels and conservative radio talk-show host. His former radio program, "Curtis and Kuby in the Morning," was replaced back in December on New York's WABC station by "Imus in the Morning," which bummed my dad out a whole bunch.

I turned to Sliwa at one point, to tell him as much. I explained that, while I've always been a Howard Stern fan and never actually heard his program, my dad was a huge fan, and was stunned when his show was canceled. Without naming names, he replied, diplomatically, "Well, some people should just know when to retire." Not even 24 hours later, Sliwa's comments were given new context. Read more...