Rapper Melvin “Magoo’ Barcliff Has Passed Away

Lead Editor Bianca Gregg reports on the passing of Virginia rap legend, Magoo.

Virginia Rap Legend Melvin “Magoo” Barcliff has passed at the age of 50. Hailing for Norfolk, VA, he was one half of the rap duo ‘Timbaland & Magoo,’ which included rapper/producer Timbaland. Featured on mega hits like ‘Up Jumps Da Boogie,’ ‘Luv 2 Luv U’ and ‘Beep Me 911,’ Magoo was known for his unique rap cadence alongside the one of a kind production of Timbaland. He was a major portion of the R&B/Hip-Hop collective ‘Da Basement’ in the 90s which featured himself, Timbaland, Missy Elliot, Ginuwine, Aaliyah, Static Major, Tweet and Devante Swing of Jodeci.

Magoo is credited as being one of the first rappers out of Virginia to go platinum. His run in 1997 was legendary and ushered in a new and more futuristic sound to Hip-Hop. At 50 years young and the year that Hip-Hop turned 50 — it never gets any easier to say goodbye to our legends.

Details surrounding Magoo’s passing are still unknown.