Current:Home > MarketsMagoo, Timbaland's former musical partner, dies at 50 -Elevate Capital Network
Magoo, Timbaland's former musical partner, dies at 50
View
Date:2025-04-17 10:46:12
In the late-'90s, rappers Timbaland & Magoo burst out of Norfolk, Virginia, with a fresh sound and a hot single, "Up Jumps da Boogie."
Half of the duo, Melvin "Magoo" Barcliff, has died, Timbaland shared on social media. No cause of death has been announced.
The producer paid tribute in an Instagram post Monday.
"This one hits different. Long live Melvin aka Magoo!!! Tim and Magoo forever. Rest easy my king," Timbaland (aka Tim Mosley) wrote.
USA TODAY has reached out to Timbaland's rep for comment.
Magoo was remembered by fellow artists including Digital Black (aka Benjamin Bush) of Dru Hill and Ginuwine, who posted a heartfelt message on Instagram.
"This dude always pushed me … I will miss you Maganooo, that's what we called him … totally one of the best ever in my eyes always pressing forward. I know we didn't talk a lot but the love was and will always be there my brotha," Ginuwine wrote.
Essential hip-hop:50 songs to celebrate 50 years, from Grandmaster Flash to Jay-Z, Outkast, more
With Timbaland, his friend since adolescence, Magoo released "Welcome to Our World" in 1997, their platinum-selling debut that featured Aaliyah and fellow Virginian Missy Elliott on their first single, "Up Jumps da Boogie."
Magoo is credited for introducing Elliott to Timbaland, which resulted in one of the most iconic pairings in '90s hip-hop starting with their collaboration on her 1997 deubt, "Supa Dupa Fly."
"It was almost like God was putting pieces together," Magoo said in a 2020 interview with youknowigotsoul.com.
Elliott shared her grief on social media Monday, saying she was first in shock at the news, but now "reality has kicked in."
Timbaland & Magoo continued success with their singles "Clock Strikes" and "We At It Again" from the "Romeo Must Die" soundtrack in 2000 and followed their swelling fame with the albums "Indecent Proposal" in 2001 and "Under Construction, Part II" (a nod to Elliott’s album, "Under Construction") in 2003.
While reflecting on his career to youknowigotsoul.com, Magoo admitted that the whirlwind of success wasn't as gratifying as it might have seemed.
"Still to this day, I can tell someone we sold 1.6 million and I have a platinum single, too. A lot of people go their whole career without having 25% of that and I've been blessed to have it, but I never got a chance to enjoy it," Magoo said."I'm going to keep it real, I didn't enjoy any of that. I never felt like me and Tim got a chance to enjoy our early years and it never even felt like we were this million selling group."
While Timbaland's producing profile exploded as he worked with Jay-Z, Madonna and Justin Timberlake among other artists, Magoo remained cryptic about the direction of his career following Timbaland & Magoo.
"I don't want to talk about what I'm doing now," Magoo said in his website interview. "I'm in the business, but I don’t want people to know what I'm doing. I used to have a production company and they worked with Madonna and Justin Timberlake. I did that after Timbaland & Magoo. I signed a few producers and they did very well."
In 2021, the three albums from Timbaland & Magoo were rereleased following a deal with Blackground Records 2.0 and Empire Distribution. It marked the first time the duo’s work was available on streaming services.
Saying goodbye to Clarence Avant:'The Black Godfather' of music dies at 92
veryGood! (29591)
Related
- Head of the Federal Aviation Administration to resign, allowing Trump to pick his successor
- Nicki Minaj Pink Friday 2 tour: See the setlist for her career-spanning concert
- Wisconsin Gov. Evers vetoes transgender high school athletics ban, decries radical policies targeting LGBTQ
- Hunter Biden's motions to dismiss tax charges all denied by judge
- How to watch new prequel series 'Dexter: Original Sin': Premiere date, cast, streaming
- Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson is scheduled for July 20. But fight still must be approved
- Tesla delivery numbers are down and stock prices are falling as a result
- From chips to pizza and beer, brands look to cash in on rare solar eclipse
- Elon Musk’s Daughter Vivian Calls Him “Absolutely Pathetic” and a “Serial Adulterer”
- 2024 Japanese Grand Prix: How to watch, schedule, and odds for Formula One racing
Ranking
- Meet 11-year-old skateboarder Zheng Haohao, the youngest Olympian competing in Paris
- Final three defendants plead guilty in Minnesota murder case taken away from local prosecutor
- As international travel grows, so does US use of technology. A look at how it’s used at airports
- YMCOIN Trade Volume and Market Listings
- Working Well: When holidays present rude customers, taking breaks and the high road preserve peace
- Wisconsin Gov. Evers vetoes transgender high school athletics ban, decries radical policies targeting LGBTQ
- Taylor Swift, Rihanna, Oprah and More Celebs Who’ve Reached the Billionaire Milestone
- Michael Stuhlbarg attacked with a rock in New York City, performs on Broadway the next day
Recommendation
Where will Elmo go? HBO moves away from 'Sesame Street'
Cyprus president asks EU Commission chief to get Lebanon to stop migrants from leaving its shores
Best Sunscreen for Every Part of Your Body, Including Sunscreen for Over Makeup
Can you buy Powerball tickets online? Here are the states that allow it
Will the 'Yellowstone' finale be the last episode? What we know about Season 6, spinoffs
Alabama lawmakers advance a bill that would revamp the state ethics law
Artemis astronauts will need a lunar terrain vehicle on the moon. NASA is set to reveal the designer
Larry Lucchino, force behind retro ballpark revolution and drought-busting Red Sox, dies at 78