By Reverend OX

Before the MC took center stage, the DJ was the prime messenger of our culture.  The DJ moved the asses and provided the soundtrack of our lives.  As the MC took the forefront, the art of DJing was pushed to the back, first as co-headliner and subsequently as the background support player.  Their influence remained omnipresent but to the casual fan, the DJ was secondary to the rapper.

Some DJ’s weren’t subject to that second class relegation.  Some DJ’s were too powerful of skill and dexterity to ever limit. Our brother and friend Roc Raida was one of those DJ’s. Tragically, this morning on September 19, 2009, he passed away.  It is still unclear of the cause of death.

Roc Raida was an impressive DJ, possessed of unparalleled skill. In 2008, Raida was appointed the title of “Grandmaster” by some Hip-Hop’s most decorated DJ’s Kool Herc, Grand Wizard Theodore, and DST.  Ability that is not demonstrated is not recognized and this was one of the rare occasions when the title Grandmaster was actually conferred on someone rather than just claimed in name. So who was Roc Raida?

Raida began his career at the age 10 in the early 80’s, inspired by his father, a member of the vaunted Mean Machine, a Hip-Hop group that rapped in both English and Spanish) and Grandmaster Flash.  Later in the  decade, he became a member of the X-Men, who later changed their name to the X-ecutioners (damn copyright laws). He believed in pushing himself for his art by dominating any DJ competitions he could find: first place in 1991 at the “As One”; second place in the “Superman Battle”; second place in 1992 at the DMC US finals, and in 1995 crowned the DMC World Champion.

From 1997-2007 Roc Raida put out a total of 12 albums, six solos and six with the X-ecutioners.  The group gained recognition with their first album X-pressions, but gained mainstream attention from their 2002 album Built from Scratch which featured the single “It’s Going Down”  collaboration with Linkin Park.  Raida was the first DJ to ever share the stage with the Saturday Night Live Band.

Unknown to many Roc Raida fans, he was extensively trained in martial arts.  His hands were registered weapons.  On the set of a video shoot Raida’s sensei was quoted as saying, “not only can he kick somebody’s ass on the wheels of steel, but he could also literally kick your ass!”  In early September, Raida sustained a major spinal injury due to a martial arts accident.  He underwent spinal surgery and was in the hospital recovering.

Just to sit and listen to how Roc Raida can juggle beats is an awe inspiring experience.  The Hip-Hop community… the music community lost a great asset today.  Rest In Peace Roc Raida, you will be missed by family, friends, and fans.

Discography

Solo

• 1997: The Adventures Of Roc Raida …One Too Many!
• 2000: Crossfaderz
• 2001: We Them Niggas
• 2003: Champion Sounds
• 2005: Rock Phenomenon
• 2007: Beats, Cuts and Skits

With The X-Ecutioners

• 1997: X-Pressions
• 1998: Japan X-Clusive
• 2002: Built from Scratch
• 2003: Scratchology
• 2004: Revolutions
• 2005: General Patton vs. The X-Ecutioners

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