R.I.P. Roc Raida
Roc Raida – The Adventures Of Roc Raida… (Mixtape, 1997)
Roc Raida died today.
The word legend gets thrown around a lot on this site and probably a lot of those times it’s undeserved, but Raida was a goddamn legend in the fully italicized sense. There really was not a more inspiring figure on the turntablist circuit. The above routine made me want to be a DJ and the news of his death stings much harder than I ever would have anticipated. I imagine anybody who ever put masking tape on a copy of of Bionic Booger Breaks is feeling the same way right now.
Update: A statement from Roc Raida’s family -
“Anthony Williams p/k to the world as The Legendary Grand Master Roc Raida has passed away unexpectedly today Sept 19 2009. He is survived by his wife, 3 lovely daughters, mother and friends. Raida was recently in an mixed martial arts accident, something that he has been practicing for several years. Although he had under gone 2 surgeries with great success, was released to an inpatient physical therapy facility and was in great spirits the past few days. This morning he started to have complications and passed. The family asks for privacy at this time.
Update: Roc Raida Memorial Service details after the jump –
Thursday September 24th
MT Nebo Baptist Church
1883 Adam Clayton Powell JR Blvd (7th Avenue) & 114th St.
Harlem New York10am – 12:30 – viewing
12:30- 3pm – service
I’ve been commiserating on IM with CB extended familia Bob Bannister and he nicely summed up Raida’s appeal:
“he was a special character
the x-men were so inspiring
to come from that hood environment
and be able to make turntablism sound and look like that
plus they were just badasses
the piklz were like the video game nerd math whiz assholes in your class
and the x-men were like the kids really good at rapping who would take your lunch money
but would also smoke you out
and raida in particular was such a soft-spoken seemingly chill ass cat
it
really hurts man”
Tumblin' Erb
September 19th, 2009 at 2:20 pm
rest in peace great dj great insperation to old and new alike.
peace from the almighty dj fuze(26 years in the game).
September 19th, 2009 at 2:32 pm
hell yes.
RIP influential.
September 19th, 2009 at 2:41 pm
rip to my man raida , who walks the planet no mo….
very sad news, big lost , like tony d aswell
September 19th, 2009 at 2:49 pm
he was amazing
September 19th, 2009 at 3:03 pm
yeah, I am with your boy. ISP were ill, but they were out in Cali, they were filipinos, and were into that intergalactic shit. I’m weird, but once I got put on to Roc Raida, Rob Swift and the X-Men, I related to them more. I was kind of amazed that there was a crew of grimey new yorkers who were throwing down just as ill (if not iller) than the other respected tablists.
i never got a chance to practice and become a DJ on their level (or on any level), but i was well into the turntablism movement when it was blossoming in the mid to late 90s.
you are missed, Roc Raida.
September 19th, 2009 at 3:05 pm
Sad to loose another pioneer in hiphop..
He sure was one hella performer!
Rest in peace Roc Raida..
The Netherlands will miss you……
September 19th, 2009 at 5:38 pm
Rest in peace Roc Raida..
great master,
September 19th, 2009 at 6:06 pm
mixed martial arts accident??? wow. RIP
September 19th, 2009 at 7:56 pm
We’ll miss you.
R.I.P Roc Raida
September 19th, 2009 at 8:04 pm
I will pray for his family.
MMA is brutal. We cant say its safer than boxing cuz evryone who read this know Roc Raida died as a result of it. A man should be able to take the risks he wants tho.
September 19th, 2009 at 9:06 pm
i am so glad u used this video as the example. as a young skateboarder it was my first look at turntablism as opposed to party dj’ing. saved up for my first numark setup off this video. the routine he does earlier in the vid with rasco’s “unassisted” is great a well. r.i.p.
September 19th, 2009 at 10:31 pm
yeah, the x-ecutioners were some of my favorite turntablists back when i was into that movement early on in the decade. raida will definitely be missed, r.i.p
September 20th, 2009 at 6:05 am
RIP – one of the best that ever did it
but um, whats wrong with being good at maths? dont be bitter just cos people are smarter than you.
September 20th, 2009 at 7:24 am
Great choice there with the Zoo York vid.
One of the few turntablist djs who knew how to rock a club live and contributed scratches to classic songs like Time’s Up.
September 20th, 2009 at 11:45 am
damn… mma accident? that’s a trip.
September 20th, 2009 at 12:47 pm
another site said it was a car accident?
September 20th, 2009 at 2:51 pm
Damn. That’s another big loss. RIP Raida.
September 21st, 2009 at 1:26 am
This is indeed a terrible loss. RIP Grandmaster Roc Raida.
Strength to family & friends
September 21st, 2009 at 6:58 pm
RIP
September 22nd, 2009 at 4:51 pm
so…
roc raida was one of my heroes.
saturday, sept 19th was my 27th birthday.
i ate approximately an entire vial of LSD.
ab rude and mykah 9 broke the news to me.
then they burst into ‘never last’
saddest shit ever. made me cry HARD.
but, i couldnt think of a better way to have the news broken to me.
roc raida will be severely missed.
September 24th, 2009 at 10:15 am
this is so sad. RIP.
i grew up on his/X-men tapes. easily one the best mixtape DJs of all time. every tape was an education and a riot.
November 10th, 2010 at 12:53 am
i love his “one too many” tape – listened to over and over and over again. RIP RAIDA