Shocking Demise of Rapper Magoo at 50: A Look into His Life and Legacy
3 min read
Netizens have been stunned by the death of Magoo a.k.a. Melvin Barcliff at the age of 50 on August 13, 2023. Melvin is best known as a member of the hip-hop group Timbaland and Magoo. R&B musician Digital Black (Benjamin Bush) of Dru Hill and Playa apparently confirmed the news in an Instagram post with the caption: “Man cannot believe this RIH Magoo dang big bro wasn’t ready for this all #superfriends.” Born in Norfolk, Virginia, Melvin began experimenting with music as a teenager. He is most known for his collaborations with Timbaland on Up Jumps da Boogie, Missy Elliott on Beep Me 911, and Playa on Derby City (Interlude). In an interview with You Know I Got Soul, Barcliff said that he met his future partner, Tim Mosley a.k.a. Timbaland, as a youngster in Norfolk through Larry Live.
They met Pharrell Williams through a mutual connection and worked together as SBI for a brief time. However, Barcliff and Mosley later became close friends. As members of DeVante Swing’s R&B and hip-hop collective Swing Mob, the two earned their first break in the music industry. In an interview with You Know I Got Soul, the rapper revealed that working with DeVante taught him to believe in his own skills. He spoke about his early days cooperating with fellow musicians who are now great names in the industry, and how they helped each other rather than competing. In 1995, Barcliff and Mosley quit Swing Mob to play as a duo under Timbaland & Magoo. They joined with Blackground Records and released their debut album, Welcome to Our World, in 1997, selling over 1.6 million copies.
Legendary Virginia Rapper Melvin “Magoo” Barcliff has passed away at 50. The artist was one half of Rap duo Timbaland and Magoo, spawning hits such as ‘Up Jumps Da’ Boogie’ and ‘Luv 2 Luv U.’ We send our condolences to his family and friends at this time. 🕊️ pic.twitter.com/5nvCltcGcr
— MEFeater Magazine (@mefeater) August 14, 2023
Timbaland’s Former Rap Partner Magoo a.k.a. Melvin Barcliff Dies At The Age Of 50
Magoo, Timbaland’s longtime collaborator, reportedly died on August 13 at the age of 50. Digital Black of the group Playa was the first to pay respect to the late rapper on his Instagram page. “Man, I can’t understand this RIP Magoo damn big bro wasn’t prepared for this at all #superfriends,” he captioned. Magoo, born Melvin Barcliff, was best known as half of the hip-hop duo Timbaland & Magoo. Aside from his association with the well-known music producer, he was also associated with Missy Elliot. The rapper began his career in 1989 when he met Timbaland while they were both teenagers. Magoo and Timbo were members of a group called SBI (Surrounded By Idiots) throughout their formative years, which included Larry Live & a then-unknown Pharrell Williams. Timbo was dubbed ‘DJ Timmy Tim,’ while Pharrell was dubbed ‘Magnum the Verb Lord,’ according to AllHipHop. The pair released their debut album, Welcome to Our World, in 1997, which included the breakthrough single Up Jumps Da Boogie.
Throughout their careers, Magoo and Timbaland frequently collaborated with other Swing Mob members such as Missy Elliott, Ginuwine, Playa, and Aaliyah. In an interview with You Know I Got Soul, the rapper revealed that working with DeVante taught him to believe in his own abilities. He spoke about his early days cooperating with fellow musicians who are now great names in the industry, and how they helped each other rather than competing. He went on to say that he believed in a hard effort and never giving up. When asked about his tough times, he said, “We didn’t care about the fame.” The dream was hearing yourself on the radio since Michael Jackson was on the radio at the time.” Besides being known for his one-liners in songs like The Bird Is the Word, Magoo also played an important role in the hip-hop industry. He stated that while folks forget rappers all the time, they remember one-liners. Magoo’s cause of death has not been disclosed, and neither his family nor Timbaland have issued a formal statement.
