Mr. Magic

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Mr. Magic

Background information
Also known as	Sir Juice Super Rocking Mr. Magic
Origin	New York City, U.S.
Genre(s)	Hip hop
Occupation(s)	DJ
Years active	1979-?
Associated acts	Marley Marl Juice Crew

This article is about the Rap and Hip-Hop pioneer. For the song by Grover Washington, Jr., see that page.

Mr. Magic is a hip hop DJ and radio host. He released his first single "Rappin' With Mr Magic" in 1979. Later he made his radio debut in 1983 with the first exclusively-hip hop show to be aired on a major radio station, on WBLS-FM's "Rap Attack" in New York City. ^[1]

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 Crew and 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."^[2]

[edit] Homages

Mr. Magic was referenced in songs by many rappers. In 1982, Whodini paid respect to the DJ in their song Magic's Wand saying "the moment he went on the air / it was plain to see a new phase was here" and "in no time at all a star was born".

Tupac Shakur revealed that his early days were musically influenced by Mr. Magic who would "cut up the hits" in the song Thug Style on CD 1 of the R U Still Down? (Remember Me) album.

Nas mentions "I miss Mr. Magic" in his debut single Halftime, from 1992.

In 1994 Mr. Magic was referenced on Notorious B.I.G.'s track Juicy as being one of his early influences: "Every Saturday - Rap Attack - Mr. Magic Marley Marl"

In 2002, he made a return as a DJ on Grand Theft Auto: Vice City's fictitious radio station Wildstyle Pirate Radio, portraying himself. Whodini's song mentioned above was also played on the radio, descirbied by Mr. Magic as "a very special throwdown (...) this song is all about me and the Rap Attack".