Twitter is blowing up right now with the recent news of DJ Roc Raida passing away from apparent surgery complications. From what I understand, the X-ecutioners DJ was undergoing spinal surgery due to an accident he was in a few weeks ago. No more information is available at this time. Roc Raida was, and always will be, one of the best. Rest in peace…
Edit: Roc Raida’s family just released this official statement:
Anthony Williams p/k to the world as The Legendary Grand Master Roc Raida has passed away unexpectedly today Sept 19 2009. He is survived by his wife, 3 lovely daughters, mother and friends. Raida was recently in an mixed martial arts accident, something that he has been practicing for several years. Although he had under gone 2 surgeries with great success, was released to an inpatient physical therapy facility and was in great spirits the past few days. This morning he started to have complications and passed. The family asks for privacy at this time.
{ 28 comments… read them below or add one }
dang no way
R.I.P ROC RAIDA
R.I.P. Roc Raida (one of the best)… True DJs know… I was just watching Roc Raida videos on YouTube last night.
Man! This year SUCKS!
RIP my dude!
very sad news guys , raida was the illest cat on the ones & two,s
saw him a few jears ago in amsterdam with , lord finesse, ag, diamond & oc.
this is realy fucked up news…….
WOW. cant believe it. truly a sad day. R.I.P. my condolences to his family.
rest in peace great dj great insperation to old and new alike.
peace from the almighty dj fuze(26 years in the game).
R.I.P. to Grandmaster Roc Raida..who truly deserved that title and like @shortcut said..fuck the dance floor i will do a juggle in his honor tonight!
This is one of those things I just can’t believe.RIP ROC RAIDA!!!!
Damn!!!!! WTF is going on right now? Dude was incredible at what he did…..will be missed very much.
nooooooooooo! very sad news
R.I.P. Roc Raida – x-ecutioners were a revolution to the whole DJ-thing.
Man, just saw him almost a month ago at this Busta Rhymes show, he looked in great spirits. R.I.P. to one of the nicest on the 1s and 2s
This year has seen a lot of good people called home. R.I.P.
R.I.P. to the master.
Wow. This is unbelievable. R.I.P. Roc.
Im almost speechless.. He was a huge talent and I know he influenced a lot of people, including danish DJ Noize, whom he have battled plenty of times in tournaments… He was a genius on the decks and a wizard on the fader, and he had an incredible ability to think outside the box….
One to the great turntablelist…
oh my god R.I.P. roc raida.
I was fortunate to meet Roc Raida in college when the X Ecutioners came to do a show with Kid Capri. After the show I spoke to Roc Raida for a few brief minutes and he was real cool and happy to talk to me. I think he could tell how happy I was to see some great turntablists as the college was Va Tech. He was mos def the best DJ I ever saw in person… the tricks, juggling and scratching. While I’m not a DJ ever since I started to listen to hip hop in the mid 80’s I always wanted to be one thanks to primarily DJ Jazzy Jeff and DJ Roc Raida… R.I.P.
I am a big fan of the X-ecutioners and all their individual work. What is going on!!!! I know people pass away everyday in life, but damn. My uncle put me on to him when I was young. The man has accomplished alot and I thank him and many other DJ’s for keeping me influenced to do it and stay interested.
He was really one of the best that ever did it. Hip hop has lost another great.
Damn man…hip hop is losing its greatest….homie was real humble wit it too.
RIP ROC.. had the pleasure to meet this grandmaster live at the Toronto DMC’ back in 99….
RIP ROC there will never be another
Rest In Power Roc Raida
very sad news indeed. ROC was dope on the wheels of steel, and yet a humble guy to talk to in person.
Remember the PIKLZ vs X-MEN battle at Manhattan Center NYC – that was hip hop history right there. Rest in Beats GM ROC RAIDA
Kid Dyno
R.I.P. to one of if not the best battle Djs to ever put it down..”heaven is going be rockin’ 4 sho”
Maybe Kanye interruptep the recovery process “Roc Raida, imma let you finish, but im preeeeetty sure MY recovery was better!”
yeah, i had to do it, sorry.
esejota – not funny
WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS YEAR!!?!??!!?!??!!?! Damn I can’t believe what’s happening, man I had the chance to see him twice in a month with Busta Rhymes and spliff star and the dj had so much mutafuckin’ dexterity, so much skills it’s just too bad for hip hop. Rest in peace Mr. DJ.