Rapper Magoo, best known for being half of the hip-hop duo Timbaland & Magoo, is said to have passed away at the age of 50.
Melvin Barcliff, also known as Magoo, apparently passed away on Sunday. Digital Black and Ginuwine, two other musicians, shared the news of his passing on social media, although no cause of death has been given.
“Man can’t believe this RIH Magoo damn big bro wasnt ready for this at all #superfriends,” wrote Digital Black, a music artist, producer and songwriter best known for his work with R&B groups Dru Hill and Playa. He included a photo of Timbaland and Magoo’s first album, 1997′s “Welcome to Our World,” which featured multiple collaborations with Playa including the hit “Luv 2 Luv Ya.”
Ginuwine, the “Pony” singer who was also featured on Timbland and Magoo’s album, shared his condolences on Instagram: “I don’t even know how to say anything at this point , I have lost 3 friends now within a month to LIFE and it’s due date ….this dude , always pushed me …I will mis you maganooo that’s what we called him ….. totally one of the best ever in my eyes always pressing forward I know we didn’t talk alot but the love was and will be always there my brotha , I will see you soon bro we all have our date and I’m expecting the bro hug when I get there I’m truly efd up right now foreal life is crazy… I hate going through this and losing people we love sometimes it makes you feel like you dont wanna feel the pain so you wanna be gone also …pain hurts ..man oh man blessings to the family all of my condolences.”
Timbaland and Missy Elliott, who supposedly borrowed Magoo’s moniker “Misdemeanor” from him, have not issued any statements regarding his passing. All three were regular collaborators and members of the musical group known as Da Bassment Cru, which was also known as the “Swing Mob” or the “Superfriends.” The group met DeVante Swing of Jodeci in a basement in Rochester, New York.
“When I first got around all those cats, they were the most talented group of people I’d ever been around. When you’re in the moment, you don’t appreciate it as much but all those people pushed me,” Magoo said in a 2020 interview.
“You learned from each person. Static and his group Playa introduced me to Rap from the South. My city was strictly East Coast rap or that DC Go-go music. Playa introduced me to 8Ball & MJG and UGK.
Those rappers would have a different flow on every song and sometimes they would have a flow on each verse. I ended up concentrating more on flow than words because that gave you the rhythm of the music more than anything. I owe Black, Static and Smokey for the influence that they gave me when they introduced me to that type of rap.”
The tracks “Up Jumps Da Boogie” (with Missy Elliott and Aaliyah), “Clock Strikes” (featuring Mad Skillz), “Luv 2 Luv Ya (Remix)” (featuring Shaunta and Playa), and “All Y’all” (including Tweet and Sebastian) are among the best-known by Magoo. Magoo had notable appearances on a number of other songs, including Missy Elliott’s “Beep Me 911,” Ginuwine’s “G Thang,” and a remix of Jodeci’s “What About Us.”
Timbaland not only worked with Magoo, but also Aaliyah, Missy Elliott, Justin Timberlake, Jay-Z, Ludacris, Nelly Furtado, Nas, Keri Hilson, and Madonna on some of the biggest successes of the ’90s and ’00s. The well-known webcast series “Verzuz” was also produced by Timbaland and Swizz Beatz, two other producers. Timbaland’s true name is Tim Mosley.
