It was an amazingly beautiful spring evening in New York City. The few clouds that hovered could only cover a couple of twinkling stars in the sky. The famed concrete jungle is not known for stargazing on moonlit nights. But on this occasion no star shined brighter or felt closer to everyone celebrating the life of Grand Master Roc Raida. And to his friends and family, Anthony Williams, is that shining star that died September 19, 2009.

A tribute to Hip-hop’s DJ, Grand Master Roc Raida, was performed at New York City’s Scratch DJ Academy. The academy hosted a panel of well-known and respected turntablist who remembered Roc Raida as a competitor, mentor and a friend. Other popular DJs like Grand Wizard Theodore, DJ K-La Boss, Nicole Leone and many more came out to support the Roc For Raida tribute. Students of the DJ art form and journalists also showed up in honor of the event. The panel consisted of DJ Rob Swift, DJ Mista Sinista, DJ Precision, DJ Diamond Jay, DJ Boogie Blind and Sean C. They all recollected Roc Raida’s competitive spirit to wanting to be the best. They also laughed and then were humbled by stories of Raida’s willingness to help any of his friends in need.

Before the evening ended, the Roc For Raida panel spoke to Raida and about Raida through the voice of the turntables. Rob Swift started it off with LL Cool J’s “Rock The Bells”. Mista Sinista jumped in like a WWE pro-wrestler during a tag team match. Both DJs smoothly and swiftly combined skills to attack the turntables (I’m still on my pro wrestling metaphor). A short while after, DJ Sean C flew in with a few elbow and knee combinations to the cross fader (ok, I’ll stop with the metaphors). Other DJs joined in the festivities of the boom bap and the poetic scratch sounds that made Roc Raida’s presence felt. But Raida’s presence is mostly felt when listening to the Roc For Raida mix.

Rob Swift, one of the four X-Ecutioners, created the project. It is 2012’s most beloved releases, which commemorates his friend’s legacy. Rob Swift states that Roc For Raida is a “collection of songs (some unreleased) and battle style routines that defined Roc Raida”. The project also features cameos from the X-Men, Mista Sinista and Total Eclipse, who perform some of their favorite Roc Raida battle sets. All proceeds go to Roc Raida’s widow, Tyeasha Williams, and their three daughters.

Raida was a showman on stage performing and winning in DMC competitions with the legendary crew X-Men, which later altered their name to the X-Ecutioners. Unlike many DJs in the 90s, he was able to flawlessly execute a complicated New York style of beat juggling techniques, which is manipulating the drum beats of a song using two records playing simultaneously, while crossing the fader back and forth with his hands, elbows, knees and even his spine. The oohs and ahs, the cheers and the screams of the crowd were constantly heard every time Roc Raida performed in a battle. More than two years of Roc Raida’s death and still on today’s Facebook pages, Twitter’s tweets and Youtube’s comments has new and old fans amazed at Roc Raida’s spectacular routines.

As a producer, Roc Raida worked with Big Pun, Smif-n-Wessun, and Show Biz & A.G. to name a few. He also released seven solo albums and three with his DJ battle crew X-Ecutioners. And still, he is most recognized and beloved as one of the best battle DJ. Raida won the 1995 DMC World Championship and in 1999 was inducted to the DMC Hall of Fame. Roc Raida would later tour with Busta Rhymes and show off his turntablism style to the world.

“In a day when DJs deejay for free bottle service at a club… In a technological age where DJs let a computer program do all the DJing for them… “Roc for Raida” serves as a reminder that when you put your heart into your craft, your craft will immortalize you. Roc Raida FOREVER!”
Rob Swift

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