Magoo, best known for his work as one half of Timbaland & Magoo, has reportedly died. He was only 50 years old.
Digital Black, of the group Playa, was the first to post a tribute to the late rapper on his Instagram page on Sunday (August 13).
“Man can’t believe this RIP Magoo damn big bro wasnt ready for this at all #superfriends,” he wrote.
Check out Black’s tribute below.
Ginuwine also appeared to pay tribute to the Norfolk, Virginia native, whose real name was Melvin Barcliff.
“Times get rough but we keep on pushing just heard some news I hope it ain’t true …I just want everyone to know that time is short love who you love and make sure they know it,” he wrote on Instagram.
Originally formed in 1989, Timbaland & Magoo initially met when they were teenagers, and decided to form a rap group. Though best known for their single, “Up Jumps Da Boogie,” the pair released three albums and were perhaps best known for their work with Missy Elliott.
In 2021, Blackground Records and Empire Distribution teamed up to re-release the whole Timbaland & Magoo catalog, which also included Timbo’s Tim’s Bio: Life from the Basement LP that initially dropped in 1998.
This distribution deal made it possible for the duo’s discography to be released to streaming platforms, making it available to larger audiences for the first time since the group’s inception.
Magoo was far from a forgotten figure in Hip Hop, receiving his flowers back in May 2020 (although at the expense of Timbaland, much to the latter’s chagrin).
Posting a clip of the Virginia native’s verse from his and Timbo’s 1997 hit “Luv 2 Luv U,” one fan declared Magoo the worst to ever hit a mic.
“Ladies and gentlemen I present to you the WORST rapper to ever exist,” they wrote along with crying face emojis.
This immediately prompted a response from people who were around to see the “Up Jumps Da Boogie” rapper in his prime, and they were quick to note that his bars were practically elite compared to some of the music being released today.
“Correction: He was below average THEN,” media personality Van Lathan wrote in response. “Looking back on it. We were lucky to have him. At least the n-gga was actually rapping.”
Magoo’s cause of death has yet to be revealed, and neither his family nor Timbaland have officially released a statement.
HipHopDX sends its condolences to Magoo’s family and friends.
Damn R.I.P
This hurts my heart man.. RIP Maganoo!!
This hurts my heart man.. RIP Maganoo!!
They got a song called Drop with Fatman scoop I remember first time I heard that on you got served I was hyped rip thanks for the memories may your legacy live on forever!🙏
Timbaland humble begginings……………
He got such undeserved hate ..an inever understood why…he had all the elements to me of a great rapper , loved Magoo..wish he was appreciated more by the masses..R.I.P the Great Magoo
Because that camp came in the game basically on their own, and he was the only one really rapping. Miss E. had her own lane and she was writing for a lot of industry people, so she wasn’t going to get the hate. She was also closer to Aaliyah, which we all know by now that every male in the industry was trying to fuck, so they weren’t going to diss her friend. He was the easy target for people to show their elitism. He wasn’t doing anything terrible and was just making party music instead of some shoot ’em up bang, bang shit.
Who?
Magoo, in his simplicity, brought something special to Tim’s beat wizardry. As did Ms. Jade, Petey Pablo, Missy, Ginuwine etc. It was dope and fun all at once. 50 is WAY too soon. Always remember, bird is the word! RIP Magoo!
ALTHOUGH I NEVER LIKED MAGOO MUSIC I HATE TO HERE HE HAS PASSED.. MY CONDOLENCE GOES OUT TO HIS FAMILY..R.I.P MAGOO.
ALTHOUGH I NEVER LIKED MAGOO MUSIC I HATE TO HERE HE HAS PASSED.. MY CONDOLENCE GOES OUT TO HIS FAMILY..R.I.P MAGOO.
ALTHOUGH I NEVER LIKED MAGOO MUSIC I HATE TO HERE HE HAS PASSED.. MY CONDOLENCE GOES OUT TO HIS FAMILY..R.I.P MAGOO.
ALTHOUGH I NEVER LIKED MAGOO MUSIC I HATE TO HERE HE HAS PASSED.. MY CONDOLENCE GOES OUT TO HIS FAMILY..R.I.P MAGOO.
Good brother icon we gone miss you. condolences to family, 1
First of all rip. To the jits in the comments. When this album came out the beats were so revolutionary. Timbaland voice is own and magoo was high and had a nice balance. He got more shit back then for trying to sound like Q-tip more than anything. Was he the greatest MC, not by a long shot, but there was about 5 bangers on this album that still are in circulation here and there 30 years later. Albums now might have 1 song that goes off for a week.
More important what happened to the penmanship on writing these articles, this site gets worse and worse, what was the point of adding in some random person negative twitter comment when writing an article about someone who is deceased?….
First of all rip. To the jits in the comments. When this album came out the beats were so revolutionary. Timbaland voice is own and magoo was high and had a nice balance. He got more shit back then for trying to sound like Q-tip more than anything. Was he the greatest MC, not by a long shot, but there was about 5 bangers on this album that still are in circulation here and there 30 years later. Albums now might have 1 song that goes off for a week.
More important what happened to the penmanship on writing these articles, this site gets worse and worse, what was the point of adding in some random person negative twitter comment when writing an article about someone who is deceased?….
Magoo you will be truly missed .. Rest in Paradise
Tim and Magoo had an original sound. Their sound and rhyme style was 20 years ahead of its time and wasn’t fully appreciated by some. Most rap artists today typically sound the same and are too afraid to stand out and be original like Tim and Magoo did. RIP
He really got hate for having the hottest producer at the time as his mans, he was mediocre back then, right now he’d be Rakim, RIP
RIP to Magoo who was talented and he will be forever missed. My colodence to his family and friends.🙏
Its almost forgotten how hot this album was. The 2nd album was slept on heavy. Great beats. R.I.P. to Maganoo.
Everybody used to clown Magoo because he sounded like he had helium in his voice, but dude did his thing to the best of his ability. RIP.
Timberland and Magoo hip hop masters. RIP brother.
Silkk da Shocker now alone lays claim to the worst rapper alive from my youth. RIP Magoo
Dude has always been such a low-key emcee nonetheless a dope emcee. RIP