Magoo in March 2011.Photo:Johnny Nunez/WireImage
Johnny Nunez/WireImage
Rapper Magoo, an early collaborator of producerTimbaland, has reportedly died at the age of 50.
No cause of death has been determined at this time.
“Man can’t believe this RIH Magoo damn big bro wasnt ready for this at all #superfriends,” he wrote.
“Pony” singerGinuwinealso paid tribute to the late musicianon Instagramreminding followers that “time is short.”
“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 🙏🏽.”
Timbaland also posted a series of Instagram posts dedicated to Magoo.
“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.
“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.
“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 introducingMissy Elliottto 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.”
Timbaland and Magoo.Johnny Nunez/WireImage
Two years later, the duo’s debut albumWelcome to Our Worldwas released, with features from Elliott, Aaliyah and Ginuwine.
“I never really got the chance to enjoy the success because it came at a cost,” Magoo said, noting it was all a blur. “I’m going to keep it real, I didn’t enjoy any of that. I never felt like me and Tim got a chance to enjoy our early years and it never even felt like we were this million-selling group. Not just from a financial standpoint, but more so because you’re always working. You go from that album and then they want another one and then you have people trying to rip you apart.”
In 2001, Magoo and Timbaland released their second album,Indecent Proposal,which featuredJAY-Z,Ludacrisand Tweet. Their next collaboration,Under Construction Part II, released in 2003, included artists likeBrandy,Wyclef Jean, Bubba Sparxxx and Beenie Man.
While Timbaland stepped further into the spotlight, Magoo took a step back.
“I enjoyed it more once it was over and I still didn’t enjoy it,” he said. “That’s why I walked away from it … When I had a No. 1 song, I realized I may have been better with my 9-5 before I left Virginia. It’s hard to be happy because you’re fighting for everything you earned and you just don’t have time to enjoy it with your family. You aren’t as close with friends anymore and people are treating you different once you have that hit record. I lived two different lives and being a celebrity wasn’t fun.”
source: people.com
