Rapper Magoo dead at 50: Hip-hop star and ex-rap partner of Timbaland dies as famous friends pay heartfelt tributes
Rapper Magoo, best known for collaborating with fellow hip-hop star Timbaland, has passed away at the age of 50, as famous friends paid tribute.
The musician, real name Melvin Barcliff, is said to have died on Sunday with no known cause of death.
The sad news was announced by fellow R&B star and music producer Digital Black in a post shared on his Instagram.
When posting a photo from Magoo and Timbaland’s 1997 album Welcome To Our World, he wrote, “Man can’t believe this fucking RIH Magoo big brother wasn’t ready for this at all #superfriends”.
Singer Ginuwine, real name Elgin Baylor Lumpkin, rushed to share his condolences while reminding followers that “time is short.”
RIP: Rapper Magoo, best known for collaborating with fellow hip-hop star Timbaland, has passed away at age 50 (pictured in 2011)
Rap stars: Magoo (L) pictured with former rap partner Timbaland (R) in 2004
Big hit: Magoo (far right) and Timbaland (far left) had their biggest hit Up Jumps Da Boogie in 1997 with Missy Elliot (L) and Aaliyah (R)
He wrote, ‘I don’t even know how to say anything at this point, I’ve now lost 3 friends to LIFE in a month and it’s due date.
“This guy used to push me… I will miss you maganooo, that’s what we called him… totally one of the best ever in my eyes always pushing forward. I know we didn’t talk much, but love was and always will be there my broth,’
He continued, “I’ll see you soon, we all have our date and I’m expecting the bro hug when I get there.”
“I hate going through this and losing people we love sometimes it makes you feel like you don’t want to feel the pain so you want to be gone too… hurt hurts.. man oh man blessings to the family all my condolences.’
While fellow artists ORyan Omri Browner wrote, ‘Damn rest in heaven Mag a nu’.
And rapper Mr Dalvin said, ‘He was such a good guy’.
MailOnline has reached out to the late rapper’s representatives for confirmation.
Fans were also heartbroken by the news with one writing, “No, no, no, you guys can’t be real.”
Heartbreak: The sad news was announced by fellow R&B star and music producer Digital Black in a post shared on his Instagram
Much missed: Fellow rap stars were quick to pay tribute
With a second remark: ‘Nooooo what happened!!!’.
And a third added: “It’s always someone you don’t expect death to be much worse.”
Someone else wrote: ‘Ommgg Nooooo not Magoo’.
Another said, ‘DAMN yo, I’ve met him before….. good dude’.
While a fellow fan wrote, “DAMN yo, I’ve met him before….. good dude.”
And: ‘Damn….. RIP Magoo’.
Friends: Magoo (R) and Timbaland (L) are both from Norfolk, Virginia, and first met when they were teenagers before taking the music industry by storm (pictured together in 2011)
Sad stuff: Fans were also heartbroken by the news with one writing: ‘No, no, no, you guys can’t be real’
Magoo and Timbaland were both from Norfolk, Virginia, and first met when they were teenagers before taking the music industry by storm.
They released their debut album, Welcome to Our World, in 1997, which spawned their highest-charting single, Up Jumps da Boogie.
They released two more albums Indecent Proposal in 2001 and Under Construction, Part II in 2003 – a follow-up to girlfriend Missy Elliot’s album from the previous year.
Timbaland then made a name for himself as a record producer and worked with Justin Timberlake, Rihanna and Madonna, among others.