This is a special memorial tribute posting for the immensely legendary Mr. Magic who was the first commercially successful radio DJ promoting Hip Hop music. Back in the mid 1980s, if Mr. Magic was not pumping your joints on his WBLS Rap Attack show in New York City, you did not exist! You had to either quit recording or back up and try again!
Quite a few people know that Mr. Magic dissed and rejected the first single from pre-Boogie Down Productions, Success is the Word, when KRS One and Scott La Rock were called 12:41 on Fresh Records. Magic’s refusal actually was the fire that truly sparked the famous Bridge Wars, between BDP and the Juice Crew. Thanks to that rejection, KRS and Scott reinvented themselves and relaunched on B-Boy Records with their groundbreaking joint, South Bronx. Because of The Bridge Wars, MC Shan, Marley Marl, and the Juice Crew’s underground status escalated to a notorious higher plateau and thanks to Mr. Magic’s influence, in that historical milestone, Hip Hop music styles truly began to expand and diversify. A new wave of style wars began!
From 1982, due to Mr. Magic’s selections, influences, endeavors, taste, scrutiny, and bluntness as both a DJ and radio host, Hip Hop music evolved into The Golden Age. Along with partner DJ Marley Marl, this was the period when Hip Hop music truly advanced its exposure as a heavy radio commodity from the live bootleg tape recordings of NYC club performances. Rap groups went from battling on the streets to the air waves on weekend mix shows mainly between WBLS and KISS FM.
And the rest, they say, is history.
Long Live the memory of Mr. Magic!
Please, visit this special link at Old School Hip Hop Tapes Blogspot for a solid page of live Rap Attack recordings with Mr. Magic on WBLS FM! Some classic moments were captured for your enjoyment in Hip Hop music history!
