RIP Grand Master Roc Raida

Another great has left us this year. Grand Master Roc Raida passed away on Saturday after sustaining major injuries from a car crash earlier this month. Roc Raida was probably best known in the mainstream as the official DJ for Busta Rhymes tour; however, to the Hip Hop Community, Roc Raida has a special place in Hip Hop history as one of the pioneers and envelope pushers of DJing.

To be honest, I never studied videos he personally put out. But I learned about Roc Raida from battle videos he was in. I respected the man as a dope turntablist and a pioneer placing him in the ranks of DJ's like Grand Wizard Theodore, Qbert, Mix Master Mike, etc.

This video here is how I first was introduced to Roc Raida.



Besides this epic battle, I'd watch other DMC videos from the 90's and Roc Raida always had routines that I'm just now starting to understand the complexity and genius of.

The world truly lost a great artist this weekend. So for all you DJ's who know a little something about our history, take a moment and learn a juggle routine (and throw in a body trick or two) in honor of Grand Master Roc Raida. Blessings.