Missy Elliott has paid tribute to Magoo, who passed away at the age of 50 over the weekend and said the rapper was the one who helped coin her stage name.
Elliott shared a clip from her and Magoo's 1997 music video for “Beep Me 911," which appeared on her debut album Supa Dupa Fly, while reflecting on the first time the pair met.
“These are the kind of post I don’t wish on any1,” she began. “At 1st I was in shock & the more I sit the reality kicks in so many emotions. I remember when we 1st met as teenagers & you said hey my name Melvin & I laughed so hard & I said wait you really talk like that? and you said yuuuup & I kept laughing & I said what you do you said I rap & you kicked 8 bars."
She continued by saying it was Magoo who came up with Missy's 'Misdemeanor' moniker.
“[And] I said you remind me of Q-Tip & you said he one of my favorite emcees but your flow was VA I loved it! & from that day we became so cool you supported me from day 1 & you said I’m going to call you Misdemeanor because it’s a crime to have that many talents.”
She added: “So those who don’t know Magoo gave me the name Misdemeanor When we did this song Beep Me 911 & I asked Magoo to get on it & I played this verse over and over & posting this is just heartbreaking I am so lost for words…”
Magoo reportedly passed away on Aug. 1 in Williamsburg, Virginia, according to his wife Meco Barcliff, who confirmed it to The New York Times.
She said her husband had no known health problems other than asthma, but that he hadn’t been feeling well during the week of his death.
Born Melvin Barcliff, the Virginia native was known as one half of the duo Timbaland & Magoo. His early career consisted of forming a rap group Surrounded by Idiots with Pharrell and Timbaland and later becoming a member of Jodeci’s DeVante Swing’s Da Bassment Cru alongside artists like Tweet, Ginuwine, Stevie J, and Playa.
Magoo and Tim's debut album went platinum and featured their biggest single “Up Jumps da Boogie,” which featured Missy Elliott and the late Aaliyah.
Timbaland paid tribute to his longtime collaborator on Monday, admitting his death “hits different.”
“This one hits different,” he wrote on Instagram while sharing a throwback video of them performing together. “Long live Melvin aka magoo !!! Tim and Magoo forever. rest easy my king.”
Ginuwine also wrote a heartfelt message, writing, "totally one of the best ever in my eyes always pressing forward."
