Mr. Magic, also known as John Rivas, was a renowned American radio personality and hip-hop DJ. He was born on March 13, 1956, in The Bronx, New York. Mr. Magic was one of the pioneers of the hip-hop genre and played a crucial role in popularizing it on the radio. Mr.
No Limit Rapper Mr. Magic Dies in Car Accident
Tragedy struck the New Orleans hip hop community hard this weekend with the news former No Limit artist Mr. Magic has died. According to Nola.com, the 37-year-old rapper, born Awood Johnson, was involved in a fatal car accident on Friday in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, which also claimed the life of his wife, Chastity. The couple’s 12-year-old daughter, Twila Wise Johnson, survived the wreck.
Mr. Magic is best known for his work with Master P’s No Limit Records in 1990s. He released three of his four albums on the label that helped his native New Orleans become a hip hop hot spot. His debut album, Sky’s the Limit, peaked at number 15 on the Billboard 200 Albums Chart.
Word of Magic’s tragic passing hit home hard for many of his former label mates, who took to Twitter to express their condolences.
"Prayers goes to the Family and Friends of M. Magic. Him and wife died in a car accident last night. " wrote Silkk The Shocker.
"RIP to my brother, Mr. Magic and his wife," Mystikal tweeted. "God bless their families."
Raised in New Orleans' 9th Ward, Johnson grew up in a family of gospel, jazz and R&B singers. His sister Timisha Brooks remembered him for his leadership qualities and love for family.
"He was a passionate guy. He loved his siblings; he loved his wife. There’s a comfort in knowing that neither of them has to live without the other. That makes it more bearable."
Funeral arrangements for Johnson have yet to be announced.
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(Photo: No Limit Records)
R.I.P. Mr. Magic
I’ve only ever followed four radio d.j.s. For every show these d.j.s aired, I had a cassette to show for it, unless force majeure prevented me (or someone I knew) from hitting “record.” I taped Tim Sommer’s weekly hardcore show on WNYU in the early eighties. (Because so many hardcore songs were less than two minutes long, I had to use a rapidograph pen to fit all the song titles onto the J-cards. I blame New York hardcore, and graffiti, for my OCD handwriting.) In the nineties, I received bi-weekly shipments from Cha Cha Cohen’s Keith Gregory of John Peel’s BBC Radio 1 show.
The two most important d.j.s in my life had the same job, more or less. In the early eighties, Mr. Magic hosted a late Thursday night show at WHBI, a station in Newark that eventually changed its name to WNWK. In May of 1982, “Mr. Magic’s Rap Attack” moved to WBLS, making it the first rap show on a major radio station. Afrika Islam took over his slot on WHBI and began airing “The Zulu Beat.” Some tapes of both shows are available here, which means I don’t have to go home and figure out how to turn a box of cassettes into MP3s.
This audio is Mister Cee’s tribute to Mr. Magic, aired by Hot 97 the day of his death. Here is a passage on Mr. Magic, excerpted from a forthcoming book by Dan Charnas, and here is the transcript of an interview with Mr. Magic and Mister Cee, conducted by Jay Smooth. And here’s the grand prize—two audio streams of Mr. Magic interviewing Biz Markie on WBLS. At the beginning of his career, Biz Markie was known more for being a beatboxer than a rapper, and was introduced to most of the world as a member of Mr. Magic’s Juice Crew. (Beyond strange to think of radio d.j.s having posses and recording contracts now.) Singing “Bennie and the Jets” at Madison Square Garden with the Beastie Boys was a very long way off.
New Orleans Rapper Mr. Magic Dies in Car Accident
Former No Limit rapper Mr. Magic tragically passed away on Friday night in a car accident in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. He was 44. The wreck took the life of the rapper’s wife Chastity, but the couple’s 12-year-old daughter Twila Wise survived the accident. Silkk the Shockr and several other members of the rap community have taken to Twitter to share their condolences.
Prayers goes to the Family and Friends of Mr. Magic. him and Wife died in a car accident last night..
— Silkk The Shocker (@SilkkTheShocker) March 2, 2013
Moment of silence for the big homie MR. MAGIC! #TRU #NOLIMITSOLDIER! RIP @mrmagic504 & his wife. Prayers are with you and your family.
— Corey Miller (@iamcmurder) March 2, 2013
Magic, born Awood Johnson, was known for his raspy Southern rap delivery. The 9th Ward rapper released his No Limit debut, Sky’s The Limit in 1998 and it reached No. 15 on the Billboard Top 200 chart and No. 3 on the Hip-Hop chart. He would go on to form Body Head Bangerz in 2004 with former heavyweight champion boxer Roy Jones Jr. and Choppa. The group released one album, which included the hit “I Smoke, I Drank.” The two also took to Twitter to share their empathy.
Just still feels unreal………. But only God knows his plans. And he could have not taken my brother in any better company. God Bless both
— Roy Jones Jr. (@RealRoyJonesJr) March 2, 2013
I can’t believe this R.I.P to my brother and mentor and my sister MR MAGIC AND CASSIDY I GUESS GOD NEEDED… instagr.am/p/WW17wCiKzX/
— CHOPPA (@CHOPPA504) March 2, 2013
Funeral arrangements have not yet been made yet.
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Mr. Magic rose to prominence in the 1980s with his radio show "Rap Attack" on WBLS-FM in New York City. He introduced a vast range of emerging hip-hop artists to the world, including Marley Marl, Biz Markie, and Big Daddy Kane.
His show became a platform for the underground rap scene, giving aspiring artists an opportunity to showcase their talent. On October 2, 2009, the hip-hop community mourned the loss of Mr. Magic as he passed away due to a heart attack. His death was a shock to many, as he had made a significant impact on the hip-hop industry and inspired countless artists and DJs. Mr. Magic's contribution to the hip-hop community cannot be understated. He played a critical role in shaping the genre and promoting its growth. His radio show provided a much-needed platform for artists, and his influence can still be felt today. Although Mr. Magic may no longer be with us, his legacy lives on through the artists he supported and the impact he made. He will always be remembered as a true pioneer of hip-hop, forever etched in the history of the genre..
Reviews for "Reflecting on Mr. Magic's tragedy: Uncovering the truth behind his death"
1. Sarah - 2 stars - I was completely disappointed by "Mr. Magic Cause of Death". The plot seemed interesting at first, but it quickly became convoluted and confusing. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it hard to connect with any of them. The twists and turns felt forced and unrealistic, leaving me underwhelmed. Overall, I found this book to be a letdown and would not recommend it to others.
2. John - 1 star - "Mr. Magic Cause of Death" was a complete waste of time. The writing was amateurish and the dialogue was incredibly cheesy. The author tried too hard to create suspense, but it just fell flat. The storyline was predictable, and the characters were poorly developed. I struggled to finish the book and was relieved when it was finally over. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone looking for a quality mystery novel.
3. Emily - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "Mr. Magic Cause of Death" based on the intriguing premise, but unfortunately, it didn't live up to my expectations. The pacing was inconsistent, with long periods of nothing happening followed by rushed, unrealistic action scenes. The plot twists were predictable, and the dialogue was uninspired. The author also seemed to rely heavily on stereotypes, which made the characters feel stale and unoriginal. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and wouldn't recommend it to others.
4. James - 2 stars - I struggled to get through "Mr. Magic Cause of Death". The writing was clunky and the narrative felt disjointed. The mystery aspect of the story was poorly executed, and the resolution felt rushed and unsatisfying. The dialogue was stilted and unnatural, making it hard to believe in any of the characters. While the concept had potential, the execution fell flat. I found myself constantly checking how many pages were left, hoping it would be over soon. Unfortunately, this book was not for me.