Magoo: Hip-Hop Artist Who Partnered with Timbaland and Missy Elliott, Passes Away at Age 50

 

Melvin "Magoo" Barcliff, renowned for his contributions to hip-hop as one-half of Timbaland and Magoo, has passed away at the age of 50. The Virginia Chief Medical Examiner confirmed the news on Monday, though the cause of death remains undisclosed.

Timbaland and Magoo formed a musical duo in 1998, stemming from their teenage years in Norfolk, Virginia. Magoo, having experience covering songs by Ralph Tresvant and New Edition in talent shows, joined forces with Timbaland, who hadn't released his own album at the time. Together, they went on to release three full-length albums and played a significant role in establishing a hip-hop presence in Virginia.

While Virginia wasn't initially synonymous with hip-hop like New York or California, the genre's influence grew steadily thanks to contributions from Timbaland and Magoo, as well as the Neptunes, Clipse, and Missy Elliot. Magoo reportedly introduced Missy Elliot to Timbaland.

In the early 90s, Timbaland and Magoo also created music under the alias Surrounded by Idiots (SBI), with Pharrell Williams as a member. They produced numerous deep cuts, which gained popularity online. Signing to Blackground Records, founded by Jomo and Barry Hankerson, Magoo and Timbaland achieved their greatest commercial success with the single "Up Jumps Da Boogie" in 1997, featuring Aaliyah and Elliot.

This track reached No. 12 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart and was part of their 1997 debut album "Welcome to Our World." Several other tracks by Timbaland and Magoo also charted, including "Clock Strikes" (No. 37 in '98), "Here We Come" (No. 92 in '98), and "Cop That Shit" (No. 95 in 2003).

Magoo collaborated with Timbaland on two more albums after their debut: "Indecent Proposal" in 2001 and "Under Construction, Part II" in 2003. These albums featured appearances from artists like Jay-Z, Beenie Man, Ludacris, Twista, Brandy, and Wyclef Jean.

While Timbaland pursued his solo career and became a prominent music producer in hip-hop, Magoo chose not to continue making music. In an interview, Magoo revealed that he hadn't seriously considered a solo album, as his partnership with Timbaland was more about friendship than being a group.

Upon Magoo's passing, Timbaland shared his grief on social media, commemorating their enduring friendship. He posted videos, old photos, and even an old verse from Pharrell Williams on a Surrounded by Idiots 1991 demo tape. Timbaland's post expressed heartfelt sentiments, as he fondly remembered their time together: "Long live Melvin aka magoo !!! Tim and Magoo forever… rest easy my king."

Written by: Kelvin Ako