This weekend, the world of hip-hop lost Grand Master Roc Raida. The DJ - who recorded a dozen albums as a solo artist and member of the X-Ecutioners, as well as serving as Busta Rhymes' official tour DJ - died on Saturday (September 19) at the age of 37.
"The legendary Grand Master Roc Raida has passed away this morning," a representative for the DJ told AllHipHop.com. "Family and friends will miss him dearly. Please give the family their privacy."
In an statement from Raida's family, his loved ones revealed he was was recently in an mixed martial arts accident, something that he had been practising for several years. While Raida had undergone two surgeries "with great success," he was released to an inpatient physical therapy facility and "was in great spirits the past few days." On Saturday morning, he began having complications, the statement says, and passed away.
Born Anthony Williams, Raida first became internationally renowned in 1995 when he claimed the DMC World DJ Championship. He was later inducted into the DMC Hall of Fame in 1999. Besides his DJing, Raida did production work for Busta Rhymes, Big L, Ghostface Killah, Big Pun, Jungle Brothers and Linkin Park.
Busta Rhymes recently expressed his sadness and condolences about Raida's death via his Twitter page, saying, in his own special vernacular: "I just wanna thank everyone 4 ur love and support and ur prayers. We will never let ur name die Roc...We love u and will 4ever miss u...RIP I was told 2day, We r loosing all of these great people this year as a result of God calling his army because something is about 2 go down!"
Raida was also known as the original creator of the popular Gong DJ Battle. He is survived by his wife, three daughters, mother and friends.
"The legendary Grand Master Roc Raida has passed away this morning," a representative for the DJ told AllHipHop.com. "Family and friends will miss him dearly. Please give the family their privacy."
In an statement from Raida's family, his loved ones revealed he was was recently in an mixed martial arts accident, something that he had been practising for several years. While Raida had undergone two surgeries "with great success," he was released to an inpatient physical therapy facility and "was in great spirits the past few days." On Saturday morning, he began having complications, the statement says, and passed away.
Born Anthony Williams, Raida first became internationally renowned in 1995 when he claimed the DMC World DJ Championship. He was later inducted into the DMC Hall of Fame in 1999. Besides his DJing, Raida did production work for Busta Rhymes, Big L, Ghostface Killah, Big Pun, Jungle Brothers and Linkin Park.
Busta Rhymes recently expressed his sadness and condolences about Raida's death via his Twitter page, saying, in his own special vernacular: "I just wanna thank everyone 4 ur love and support and ur prayers. We will never let ur name die Roc...We love u and will 4ever miss u...RIP I was told 2day, We r loosing all of these great people this year as a result of God calling his army because something is about 2 go down!"
Raida was also known as the original creator of the popular Gong DJ Battle. He is survived by his wife, three daughters, mother and friends.
