TDR remembers Roc Raida
Legendary DJ Roc Raida died on Saturday, according to All Hip Hop. Anyone who’s even looked at a set of turntables owes a debt of gratitude to Roc Raida, who co-founded the influential turntablist collective X-Ecutioners, and won the DMC World DJ Championship in 1995.
Roc Raida contributed production and scratching to great hip-hop artists like Smif-N-Wessun, Ghostface Killah, Black Thought, and Fat Joe. He then crossed over to work with mainstream acts like Linkin Park and Pink. He was also known as the innovator of body tricks in scratch routines.
Roc Raida’s passing was confirmed by Busta Rhymes’ Twitter, who had Roc Raida serve as his official tour DJ. Roc Raida was 37 years old. The cause of death is yet to be known. [All Hip Hop, Pitchfork]
