Mr. Magic, also known as Rap Attack, was a legendary radio personality in New York City during the 1980s. He was born as John Rivas and started his career in radio at the age of 16 at WHBI 105.9 FM. His show, which aired from midnight to 5 am, became a platform for showcasing new and emerging hip-hop artists. Mr.

Mr magic wbls

Legendary New York DJ Mr. Magic (born John Rivas, aka Sir Juice) started his career in 1979 with The Mr. Magic Disco Showcase. Over time as more hip-hop was pressed to vinyl, Magic's show changed and became what is widely considered the first all hip-hop radio show, Rap Attack, in 1983 on community radio WHBI.

It wasn't long before Magic made the transition to a commercial station, WBLS thanks to the help of NYC stalwart Frankie Crocker. With Marley Marl by his side, Mr. Magic remained on WBLS until 1989.

More

• Biography.com: Mr. Magic
• Hip-Hop DX: Mr. Magic Dies of Heart Attack

13 Episodes in the Archive

DJs/Hosts

Featured Guests

Mr. Magic's show on WHBI gained a lot of popularity, and he soon moved to WKTU 92.3 FM.

About the Archive

The Hip-Hop Radio Archive aims to digitize, preserve, share, and contextualize recordings of hip-hop radio from the 1980s and 1990s from commercial, college, community, and pirate stations of all sizes, telling the stories of the shows and the people that made them. Learn more.

• Changelog | Contact

• Text ©2024 Hip-Hop Radio Archive. All rights reserved, except when they're not.
• Design based on a template by: HTML5 UP

• Privacy Policy

Juice Crew founder Mr Magic: R.I.P.

One of hip-hop’s pioneering DJs, Juice Crew founder Mr Magic, has died of a heart attack.

The news was confirmed by fellow New Yorker DJ Premier today. Magic debuted in 1983 on the city’s WBLS-FM with Rap Attack, the first rap-focused radio show to be air on a major station. It featured Marley Marl and was co-produced by Tyrone ‘Fly T’ Williams.

Magic went on to form seminal hip-hop collective The Juice Crew (Magic’s alias was ‘Sir Juice’) with Marley Marl, Big Daddy Kane and more, and was a frequent reference point for New York hip-hop acts including Notorious B.I.G, who mentioned him in one of his most seminal lines: "every Saturday Rap Attack/Mr. Magic, Marley Marl", from ‘Juicy’.

"R.I.P. to the man who put hiphop radio on the map…. the one the only… MR. MAGIC. TOO MUCH YALL" – Q-Tip, via twitter

Said Premier, in his ‘letter’ about Magic’s death:

"I WANT TO SEND OUT THE UTMOST RESPECT AND CONDOLENCES TO THE MEMORY OF JOHN RIVAS—-aka MR. MAGIC

HE PASSED AWAY THIS MORNING OF A HEART ATTACK…

TRUE HIP HOP HEADS KNOW THAT HIS HISTORY IS SO LONGDUE TO HIM BEING THE FIRST RAP MIXSHOW TO EVER BE ON COMMERCIAL RADIO ON NEW YORK’S WBLS–(107.5) WITH MARLEY MARL AND FLY TY IN 1982-1984…….THEN WENT ON TO WHBI IN OCTOBER OF 1984 AND THENBACK TO WBLS in 1985 and WDAS in Philly SIMULTANEOUSLY

HE PAVED THE WAY FOR ALL RADIO STATIONS THAT EVER DID MIXSHOWS AND ALSO SPARKED THE CAREER OF BOOGIE DOWN PRODUCTIONS DUE TO THE DISS HE SHOWED WHEN THEY CAME TO SHOP THEIR DEMO TO HIM AND WAS TURNED AWAY WHICH THEN SPARKED “SOUTH BRONX” AND “THE BRIDGE IS OVER”…….

HE WAS KNOWN FOR HIS DIRECT AND SARCASTIC ATTITUDE ON THE AIR AND EVERY ARTIST WANTED HIS APPROVAL WHEN IT CAME TO BREAKING NEW RECORDS……..HE EVEN HAD SONGS DEDICATED TO HIM BY THE LEGENDARY WHODINI–(”MR. MAGIC’S WAND”) WHICH WAS SURPRISINGLY PRODUCED BY ONE OF MY FAVORITE ARTISTS THOMAS DOLBY…….

SHOUTS OUT TO MARLEY MARL AND FLY TY FOR THE CORRECT INFORMATION ON THIS……

REST IN PEACE MR. MAGIC………….DJ PREMIER" [via missinfo]

Mr magic wbls

Mr. Magic and Mister Cee - 1995
Hip-Hop History 101

This was truly an honor getting to sit down and spend time with 2 legendary figures in Hip-Hop music. For those who don't know, here's the facts:

Mr. Magic was the first man to play hip-hop on the radio (details below), and his pioneering Rapp Attack show (with DJ Marley Marl) on WBLS New York radio was the birthplace of the Juice Crew, a collective of artists incuding MC Shan, Roxanne Shante, Craig G, Bizmarkie, Kool G Rap, Masta Ace, and Big Daddy Kane. Throughout the eighties the Juice Crew battled with Kiss FM's DJ Red Alert and his stable of artists led by Boogie Down Productions (who first became known by dissing the Juice Crew's MC Shan).

DJ Mister Cee joined the Juice Crew as Big Daddy Kane's DJ, but long after Kane himself faded away Mister Cee continued to be a major player in the rap game. He's been one of the top mixtape DJs, managed and produced numerous groups and is well known as the man who discovered Biggie Smalls. Nowadays Mister Cee and Mister Magic are reunited on Hot 97, where they bring old-school classics every Sunday night. At the time of this interview they also had an underground show on WNYC, which is where i sat down with them for a classic hip-hop conversation.

• Part One - How it all started
• Part Two - Why we dissed KRS One and Public Enemy
• Part Three - The future: Why the underground is vital

Today In Hip Hop History: October 2nd - "Mr. Magic" Passes Away

He is a legend in the world of Hip Hop. John “Mr. Magic” Rivas is the first DJ to bring the "Hip Hop" mixshow to the commercial airwaves in New York City. Sadly, he passed away due to a heart-attack on October 2, 2009.

Check his Wikipedia page and some of his classic radio shows below:

"Mr. Magic debuted in 1979 on WHBI-FM in New York City with “Disco Showcase” on the pay-for-time FM station. It was a far cry from the prime time in New York, what he didn’t realize was he was starting the very first rap radio show. A few short years would go by and Frankie Crocker, program manager for Inner City Broadcasting, took his rising star to commercial powerhouse WBLS with the first exclusive rap radio show to be aired on a major station.[2] Rap Attack, Magic's show featured Marley Marl as the DJ and Tyrone "Fly Ty" Williams as the show's co-producer. Magic moved full-time to WBLS-FM in July 1982. His reign on the New York City airwaves lasted six years and was instrumental in broadening the scope and validity of hip-hop music.[3] Mr. Magic recorded one 12" single as an artist "Magic's Message (There's A Better Way)",[4] produced by Spyder D for Posse Records in 1984. He is also interviewed in the 1986 cult documentary Big Fun In The Big Town.[5]

During the mid-80s there was a rivalry between Mr. Magic and Kool DJ Red Alert, who hosted a weekly show on WRKS-FM. The feud also played out between proxy rap groups, the Juice Crewand Boogie Down Productions (see The Bridge Wars). The Juice Crew – headed by Mr. Magic's on-air assistant, DJ Marley Marl – was named after one of Magic's aliases, "Sir Juice."[6]" -https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._Magic

DJ Premier wrote this on the day he passed:

“I WANT TO SEND OUT THE UTMOST RESPECT AND CONDOLENCES TO THE MEMORY OF JOHN RIVAS—-aka MR. MAGIC

HE PASSED AWAY THIS MORNING OF A HEART ATTACK…..

TRUE HIP HOP HEADS KNOW THAT HIS HISTORY IS SO LONG DUE TO HIM BEING THE FIRST RAP MIXSHOW TO EVER BE ON COMMERCIAL RADIO ON NEW YORK’S WBLS–(107.5) WITH MARLEY MARL AND FLY TY IN 1982-1984…….THEN WENT ON TO WHBI IN OCTOBER OF 1984 AND THEN BACK TO WBLS in 1985 and WDAS in Philly SIMULTANEOUSLY

HE PAVED THE WAY FOR ALL RADIO STATIONS THAT EVER DID MIXSHOWS AND ALSO SPARKED THE CAREER OF BOOGIE DOWN PRODUCTIONS DUE TO THE DISS HE SHOWED WHEN THEY CAME TO SHOP THEIR DEMO TO HIM AND WAS TURNED AWAY WHICH THEN SPARKED “SOUTH BRONX” AND “THE BRIDGE IS OVER”…….

HE WAS KNOWN FOR HIS DIRECT AND SARCASTIC ATTITUDE ON THE AIR AND EVERY ARTIST WANTED HIS APPROVAL WHEN IT CAME TO BREAKING NEW RECORDS……..HE EVEN HAD SONGS DEDICATED TO HIM BY THE LEGENDARY WHODINI–(“MR. MAGIC’S WAND”) WHICH WAS SURPRISINGLY PRODUCED BY ONE OF MY FAVORITE ARTISTS THOMAS DOLBY…….

SHOUTS OUT TO MARLEY MARL AND FLY TY FOR THE CORRECT INFORMATION ON THIS……

REST IN PEACE MR. MAGIC………….DJ PREMIER“

October 2, 1973: Proof (D12/Eminem) was born

However, his real breakthrough came when he joined WBLS 107.5 FM in 1983. At WBLS, he hosted "Rap Attack," a show dedicated to hip-hop music. It was the first of its kind and played a crucial role in bringing hip-hop to mainstream audiences. Mr. Magic's show was known for its exclusive interviews with popular rap artists and premiering new hip-hop tracks. He played a significant role in launching the careers of many renowned artists, including LL Cool J, Eric B. & Rakim, and Biz Markie. His influential radio show played a significant role in shaping the hip-hop culture and industry, and he became a highly respected figure in the music industry. Despite his success, Mr. Magic faced some controversies during his career. He had a notorious rivalry with another popular radio DJ, DJ Red Alert, which led to on-air confrontations. However, their rivalry was also seen as a friendly competition that further boosted the popularity of hip-hop music. Tragically, Mr. Magic's life was cut short when he passed away at the age of 53 due to a heart attack in 2009. His death was a great loss to the hip-hop community, but his legacy lives on. He is remembered as a pioneer and a trailblazer who played a significant role in bringing hip-hop music to the masses through his radio show and support of emerging artists. In conclusion, Mr. Magic was a legendary radio personality who played a pivotal role in popularizing hip-hop music in New York City during the 1980s. His show, "Rap Attack," on WBLS became instrumental in launching the careers of many renowned hip-hop artists. Despite facing controversies, Mr. Magic's contributions to the hip-hop culture and industry are still highly regarded..

Reviews for "The Magic of Mr. Magic: Recounting Memorable Moments on WBLS"

1. John - 1 star

Mr. Magic on WBLS was the worst radio show I've ever listened to. His voice was annoying and he seemed completely out of touch with real music. I didn't understand half of the songs he played and his commentary was mind-numbingly boring. I would not recommend this show to anyone who appreciates good music.

2. Lisa - 2 stars

I was really disappointed with Mr. Magic on WBLS. I had heard so much hype about him, but when I finally tuned in, I was underwhelmed. His song choices were dated and uninspiring, and his attempts at humor fell flat. It felt like he was stuck in the past and not connecting with the current music scene. Overall, I found the show uninteresting and would not listen again.

3. Mike - 2 stars

I gave Mr. Magic a chance on WBLS, but it just didn't live up to my expectations. The selection of songs was predictable and lacked variety. It felt like he was just playing the same old tunes over and over again. There was no excitement or freshness to the show. I was hoping for a new experience and ended up feeling bored and uninterested. I won't be tuning in again.

Mr. Magic and the Art of Discovering Talent on WBLS