Roc Raida tribute at Nitehawk Cinema (Brooklyn)
Whenever I think about Roc4Raida I have memories of when he and I would watch the old DMC tapes of Tony Prince screaming at the top of his lungs “AND THE WINNER IS…” - Raida and I so wanted to experience that for ourselves when we first started competing but we retired from battling in 1992. Devoting our lives to DJ competitions, only to have wack ass judges rig results or vote against us was very trying on us. We took that kind of shit really hard! Thus, we pursued other career goals. But although I moved on from battling, Raida still felt like he had one more DMC left in him. So two years later, Raida decided to come out of retirement and asked me to help him train for the 1995 DMC. At which point, all of my personal goals took a back seat to helping my brother Raida win the title he coveted so much. I remember at the time I was working on all new routines. Stuff that was more advanced than my previous battle routines with joints like “Nobody Beats The Biz”. I was in the mist of devising new, innovative ways of beat juggling by now. I’m talking more musical beat juggles with tracks like “I Gotta Have It” by ED OG & The Bulldogs. The Beastie Boys’ “Paul Revere” inspired me to begin experimenting with creating beat juggles that went in reverse with Eric B. & Rakim’s “Eric B. For President”. The timing for Raida feeling “that itch” again couldn’t of been better because when he asked for my assistance to prepare for the 95 DMC, I concluded my new routines were now his.
Yes, it has been 10 year since Roc Raida's death. None of us will ever have adequate words to express who sorely we miss him. We can still try though. On November 20th, 2019 at Nitehawk Cinema in Brooklyn - NY, A Trak, Sean C, and myself, sat in front of an audience of Roc Raida fans to discuss his timeless routines and legendary performances from 1991 through 2009. God bless those of you who came out and supported this event. It would have made Raida proud!