Rapper Magoo, an early collaborator of producer Timbaland, has reportedly died at the age of 50.
The news was revealed by music producer Digital Black in an Instagram post, which featured the cover of Magoo and Timbaland’s 1997 album Welcome to Our World.
The caption reads, “Man can’t believe this RIH Magoo damn big bro wasnt ready for this at all #superfriends.”
Timbaland also posted a series of Instagram posts dedicated to Magoo. Two posts are videos of the duo performing their hit song “Up Jumps Da Boogie.”
“This one hits different 🥲🥲🥲 long live Melvin aka magoo !!!💔💔💔 Tim and Magoo forever 🕊️🕊️🕊️ rest easy my king ❤️❤️❤️,” the producer wrote in the first, alongside a video of the pair performing together.
Another post he shared was audio of producer and artist Pharrell Williams’ 1991 demo tape performed by Magoo and Timbaland.
Born Melvin Barcliff, the rapper met Timbaland in Norfolk, Virginia when they were teenagers and in 1989 formed the duo Timbaland & Magoo.
In a 2020 interview with YouKnowIGotSoul, Magoo discussed how impressed he was by Timbaland’s DJing and producing skills.
“He was selling mixtapes back then. We’re not talking about New York City, Atlanta or Miami here. We’re talking about Virginia. It was not a hip-hop area,” Magoo told the outlet.
Back in the early 1990s, Magoo and Timbaland were all in a collective called Surrounded by Idiots (SBI), which featured Pharrell Williams. Magoo was impressed by Pharrell’s talent, too.
“Pharrell’s musical ability was out of space and he was in his own world. The first time I heard him do a rap, I was like, ‘This dude already sounded like he was ready for the mainstream,’” he said in the interview.
Magoo was also responsible for introducing Missy Elliott to Timbaland and creating one of music’s most dynamic pairings. “It was almost like God was putting pieces together,” he said of their collaboration. “She saw the future for what Tim’s production could do.”
Missy also shared a special tribute to Magoo on Instagram with their video Beep Me 911 featuring 702. The caption reads, These are the kind of post I don’t wish on any1😢 at 1st I was in shock & the more I sit the reality kicks in so many emotions.”
She continued, “I remember when we 1st met as teenagers & you said hey my name Melvin & I laughed so hard & I said wait you really talk like that?🫢 and you said yuuuup & I kept laughing & I said what you do you said I rap & you kicked 8 bars & I said you remind me of Qtip & you said he one of my favorite emcees but your flow was VA I loved it! & from that day we became so cool you supported me from day 1 & you said I’m going to call you Misdemeanor because it’s a crime to have that many talents.”
Missy concluded, “So those who don’t know Magoo gave me the name Misdemeanor When we did this song Beep Me 911 & I asked Magoo to get on it & I played this verse over and over & posting this is just heartbreaking I am so lost for words… 😭🕊️💔”
In the early 1990s Magoo — along with Timbaland and Elliott — became part of the hip-hop collective Da Bassment Cru, which was curated by Jodeci member DeVante Swing. “When I first got around all those cats, they were the most talented group of people I’d ever been around,” said Magoo.
By 1995 the project fizzled out and Timbaland & Magoo signed to Blackground Records, run by Aaliyah‘s uncle, Barry Hankerson. “Aaliyah was funny and a good-spirited-type person,” Magoo recalled. “If it wasn’t for her, we wouldn’t have been on Blackground. She spoke up for Tim and me and Barry ended up signing us … Aaliyah vouched for us and I never forgot that.”
Two years later, the duo’s debut album Welcome to Our World was released, with features from Elliott, Aaliyah and Ginuwine. The “Pony” singer also paid tribute to the late musician on Instagram.
“I don’t even know how to say anything at this point , I have lost 3 friends now within a month to LIFE and it’s due date ….this dude , always pushed me …I will mis you maganooo that’s what we called him ….. totally one of the best ever in my eyes always pressing forward I know we didn’t talk alot but the love was and will be always there my brotha , I will see you soon bro we all have our date and I’m expecting the bro hug when I get there 🍷,” he wrote alongside an image of Magoo with the text “R.I.P Soldier Melvin “MaGoo” Barcliff.”
He continued, “I’m truly efd up right now foreal life is crazy… I hate going through this and losing people we love sometimes it makes you feel like you dont wanna feel the pain so you wanna be gone also …pain hurts ..man oh man blessings to the family all of my condolences 🙏🏽.”
In 2001, Magoo and Timbaland released their second album, Indecent Proposal, which featured JAY-Z, Ludacris and Tweet. Their next collaboration, Under Construction Part II, released in 2003, included artists like Brandy, Wyclef Jean, Bubba Sparxxx and Beenie Man.
Along with “Up Jumps Da’ Boogie,” other songs Magoo worked on include “Clock Strikes” (feat. Mad Skillz), “Luv 2 Luv Ya (Remix)” (feat. Shaunta and Playa), and “All Y’all” (feat. Tweet and Sebastian). He was notably featured on Missy Elliott’s “Beep Me 911,” Ginuwine’s “G Thang,” and a remix of Jodeci’s “What About Us.”
Sending condolences to all his family and friends. R.I.P. Magoo.
