Magoo was a rapper who collaborated with celebrated rapper and producer Timothy “Timbaland” Mosley as the duo Timbaland & Magoo.
- Died: August 13, 2023 (Who else died on August 13?)
- Details of death: Died at the age of 50.
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Magoo’s legacy
Born Melvin Barcliff, Magoo met Timbaland when they were teens, forming their rap duo soon after. They released their debut album, “Welcome to Our World,” in 1997. It included the No. 1 hit single “Up Jumps Da’ Boogie,” featuring Missy Elliott and Aaliyah (1979–2001). Timbaland & Magoo went on to release two more albums in 2001 and 2003 as Timbaland rose in fame as a producer. Their later singles included “Luv 2 Luv U,” “Clock Strikes,” and “All Y’all.” Magoo also rapped on songs by such artists as Jodeci, Ginuwine, Playa, and Elliott.
Notable quote
“I loved the creative process of making the songs with my friend. Those were the special times. I hated video shoots and everything that had to do with celebrity. I remember I went to a drive through and someone gave me free food. I was like ‘When we didn’t have money, they wouldn’t give us anything.’ It was a wakeup call because fame shows you what’s good and terrible about us. We treat people that are famous better than people that actually need help.” —from a 2020 interview for You Know We Got Soul
Tributes to Magoo
Full obituary: Syracuse.com
