How long you been rappin?

I been rappin off an on now for about 8 years and started taking it seriously now for about 3 years

What made you start doing what you do?

I felt my story and everything I been through inspired me through music 100% real and plenty of credibility

Who has influenced you and your style of rap?

The streets are who has influenced me the most. Music today has no depth the streets and all my real niggas around the world is who influenced me and my style now real nigga music has a face and a voice.

Who did you work with on this cd?

I worked with all exclusive and up and coming producers and artist on this project. Producers were D-Swag from Just Released Ent., and “TeeBee on the track bitch” from

Crank Boy Ent., whom both I know you will be hearing about sooner than later. Artist were the fine and sexy Ms. Meme and my lil nigga X-Dizzle who has help me burn the streets up with my hit single Holla Back. T-Ray CEO and Crankboy’s finest, Gooch the Mayor CEO of Just Released Ent., Miss Money aka the hardest lady and Cuzzo the next hottest male R&B artist to blaze up the Carolinas.

Is there anyone that you would like to work with?

Yo Gotti, Bun B and Bootsie are some mainstream artist that if the opportunity presented itself I would like to work with. I feel like they present the credibility and their music speaks and represents who they are, just as me.

What would you tell people coming behind you? What advice would you give them?

Through themselves dreams can be made possible, never give up on your craft cause hard work and consistency is what’s respected, but drive and determination is what’s needed.

Has it been a hard road?

I can say it has been cause as a independent artist without a major deal I am still seeking my place in the industry, my road never stops being hard until I’m a household name and my story and my struggle is what I profit from.

What type of barriers have you had to conquer?

I think my biggest barrier and conquest I overcame is 10 years of being incarcerated, being able to come out and establish myself in society. And after 2 years of being in the streets, I started and funded my own record label, sponsored my own project, not only focusing on the music part but looking more into the business aspect of it. And going to college to obtain a Baccalaureate degree in Business Administration.

What is your motivation to keep going when it gets hard?

My biggest motivation is all the haters and critics that I have encountered as I strive to make it in the music industry. North Carolina hasn’t gotten that buzz yet that we deserve and I feel like it’s coming so I work hard and continue to stay patient cause I know like every state that has, we are going to get our time to shine.

Any shout outs?

I just wanna say Black Rebel is the movement Just Released is the family, and Crankboy is the army. To all my niggas incarcerated fed and state I’m the voice for all my real niggas. To all that had input and ideas for my album, and everybody that purchased my

Album. To all my DJs that’s playing my shit in the club, and to WUFO Internet Radio and The SHOWCASE Magazine for introducing the world to a real nigga.

Paying Homage

"...hanging pictures on my wall, every Saturday rap attack, Mr. Magic, Marley Marl..."

This is not only a well known line from The Notorious B.I.G.'s 1994 classic "Juicy"; it was the radio show that would push hip-hop into the forefront of mainstream urban radio.

Debuting in 1983 on WBLS-FM in New York City, Rap Attack was the first exclusive hip-hop radio show to be aired on a major radio station. The show featured Marley Marl, who later formed the Juice Crew, as the DJ and Tyrone "Fly Ty" Williams as the show's co-producer. During the early 1980's, Disco and funk were fading, and rap was emerging as a rebellious new art form in the streets, housing projects, and parks of New York City. In the years prior to Rap Attack, Mr. Magic, born John Rivas, was working as a mobile DJ in Brooklyn who purchased late-night air time on a New York public-access radio station, WHBI (now WNWK), to broadcast new hip-hop releases.

Mr. Magic's breakthrough came when WBLS-FM decided to take a chance on playing hip-hop in 1983. Mr. Magic was pretty much the "go to guy" when it came to finding out what new hip-hop music has been released. He was the DJ and radio host every artists wanted approval from. According to Tyrone "Fly Ty" Williams, in 1984, WBLS wanted to abandon the rap show and offered Mr. Magic the chance to host a show playing softer music. Fearing the demise of hip-hop music in pop culture, Magic left WBLS and returned to WHBI in order to retain not only his audience, but to retain the outlet he provided for hip-hop. He came back to WBLS the next year and stayed until 1989.

Aside from being noticed as the pioneer of the hip-hop mix show, Mr. Magic was also known for being instrumental in the Queensbridge vs. Bronx rivalry between the Juice Crew and Boogie Down Productions. While shopping their latest single to Mr. Magic, BDP heard Juice Crew's MC Shan's single "The Bridge." A song in which MC Shan credits Hip-hop's beginning in the parks of Queens. After hearing this single, and hearing the news that Mr. Magic gave BDP's single a less than positive review, BDP responded with the classic hip-hop singles, "South Bronx" and "The Bridge Is Over. These two singles were in heavy rotation at KISS-FM by Kool DJ Red Alert, Magic's Rival.

Mr. Magic's Rap Attack only lasted six years but it was very instrumental in widening the scope and validity of hip-hop music. Mr. Magic recorded one 12' single as an artist "Magic's Message (There's A Better Way)", produced by Spyder D for Posse Records in 1984.

After leaving WBLS in 1989, Magic spent his career at various stations between Baltimore and New York. He returned to New York in 2000 to spin for Hot-97, but lasted there just three years. Magic's long-time motto was "No more music by the suckers", a position that hardly jibed with payola-fueled contemporary formulas. Indeed, his primary allegiance was always to the listeners. He returned to the spotlight as himself in 2002 in video game "Grand Theft Auto: Vice City," which incorporates the fictitious radio station, "Wildstyle Pirate Radio", in which he is the host playing old school hip-hop songs.

On the morning of October 2, 2009, John Rivas, known around the world as Mr. Magic, died from a heart attack at the age of 53. Around the time of Mr. Magic's death, WBLS officials were working to have Mr. Magic back on the air. Mr. Magic was separated from his wife, Lisa Rivas. He leaves sons John Jr. and Jabar, and his daughter, Domonique Rivas.

Mr. Magic has been referenced in songs by many rappers such as:

"Magic's Wand" by Whodini.

"Thug Style" by 2pac

"Halftime" by Nas

"Love" by Mos Def

Although Mr. Magic's untimely passing has sadden the real true hip-hop fans who grew up listening to him, it has also given the younger generation a chance to do some research and find out who he was and how important his legacy will always be to not only hip-hop music, but to urban media outlets period.

-Quinton "DJ Q-Mix" Jones.