John Rivas

John Rivas

John Rivas, who was better know as Mr. Magic, was a legendary hip-hop star who died in October 2009 of a heart attack. The rapper hosted the first ever mixshow on commercial radio, called "Rap Attack" in the early '80s.

Hip-Hop Legend Mr. Magic Dies

Legendary hip-hop artist Mr. Magic died today of a heart attack. The rapper hosted the first commercial radio mix-show, exposing hip-hop to the masses on "Rap Attack" in the '80s. In 1994, Notorious B.I.G gave Mr. Magic a shout-out in one of his songs.

Mr. Magic died of a heart attack. (mtv.com)
Mr. Magic was also part of the "Bridge Wars" rivalry in the '80s, between his Juice Crew and Boogie Down Productions over the rejection of a record. The rift is a fondly remembered piece of hip-hop history.

Dr. Premier said about the late star in his blog: "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."
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