Guest Post by
Jamey “Numoon” Roberti
https://linktr.ee/jameylovesmusic
Hip Hop recently celebrated its 50th birthday. The same weekend, sources reported that rapper Magoo, also 50, had passed away. The cause of death has not been revealed.
Certain hip hop voices and projects go beyond the average flows and provide voices, characters, and energy that make them stand out in the listener’s head. One of those projects was Under Construction Part 2 by Timbaland and Magoo. Here and throughout his career, Magoo’s relaxed, smooth, kind of funky flow intrigued listeners as it was a lot more chill and laid back than more in your face rappers while still holding its own.
Hip Hop heads may see just a coincidence that his passing at 50 is announced the same weekend as Hip Hop’s 50th birthday. Hip hop is a celebrated culture rooted in the struggles of black and minority Americans. The music has become the poster child of money-making capitalists in the music industry and has been used to make billions of dollars worldwide. Many rappers have become unimaginably rich (and made their record labels far richer).
And yet the culture continues to lose rappers at a concerningly young age, often to causes such as gun violence, drug use, and even suicide. Rest in peace Pop Smoke, Young Dolph, Mac Miller, Lil Peep, and unfortunately many more. May their memory be a blessing.
Another tragedy which some may not see is that, with hip hop being “middle-aged” now, so are its legends. And while these legends have made it past their 20’s, they are still passing far too soon. Many of them are passing not just from issues affecting their younger counterparts, but to preventable health issues that sadly plague minority communities.
While many of their causes of death are not brought to light for privacy, one example is underground king MF DOOM. DOOM passed on Halloween of 2020, with his passing only being announced on new years eve of that year. Only in 2023 was it revealed that his cause of death was less than adequate care provided by a hospital trying a new prescription to treat his health issues including kidney disease and high blood pressure. For a rapper that was playfully villainous, it was heartbreaking to see the genuine and tender side of his personal afflictions, along with the lack of care that he received as a middle-aged black man with a health issue.
And so, while our culture celebrate its 50th birthday, recognition is in order for those who the culture lost in these years. Furthermore, it is important to recognize the inequities that caused their loss and that are being neglected while seemingly unlimited amounts of profit are being made off of their art and pain. Rest in peace to Magoo and all that are gone forever.
Guest Post by
Jamey “Numoon” Roberti
© 2023, Seth "Digital Crates" Barmash. All rights reserved.
