Solo Artist · Hip Hop · United States

Mr. Magic

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Albums

Radio

About

The radio host who carried rap from WHBI’s Disco Showcase to WBLS’s Rap Attack, making hip-hop a fixture on major-market airwaves.

John “Mr. Magic” Rivas is the radio personality most closely associated with bringing hip-hop from underground block parties to mainstream radio in New York City — an early and visible advocate for rap on the airwaves whose programming helped define how the music sounded on FM. A pioneering Puerto Rican hip-hop radio DJ, he is widely credited with launching the first dedicated rap show on commercial radio.

Rivas began his on-air career in 1979 on WHBI with a program called Disco Showcase, which is recognized as the first-ever rap radio show. In the early 1980s Inner City Broadcasting program director Frankie Crocker brought Rivas to WBLS, where he launched Rap Attack. Rap Attack occupied a unique position as the first dedicated hip-hop show on a major-market station and became a crucial platform for emerging MCs and records. The program featured DJ Marley Marl on the boards and set a template for radio presentation of hip-hop in the decade that followed.

Beyond the mic, Mr. Magic linked himself to the scene through associations such as membership in the Juice Crew and releases tied to Profile Records. His shows’ combination of a major-market FM outlet and a committed DJ collaborator helped normalize rap on commercial radio and created routings for DJs, producers, and rappers to reach larger audiences. He continued to be cited by artists and industry figures for his role in those early years.

Born John Rivas on March 15, 1956, he remained a touchstone for old-school radio culture until his passing on October 2, 2009. Today his work is remembered as a key chapter in hip-hop’s migration from local parties and pirate broadcasts to the playlists of established radio stations.

Sound

On-air, Mr. Magic foregrounded early rap records and live DJing — his Rap Attack programs paired emerging MCs with DJ Marley Marl’s needle work, presenting hip-hop as a radio-focused, performance-driven form. His broadcasts emphasized rhythm-driven records and the call-and-response energy of early MCs.

Scene

Mr. Magic occupies the role of an early architect of hip-hop radio in the United States — a connector between underground scenes and major-market radio who helped open commercial doors for DJs, producers, and rappers. His membership in the Juice Crew and ties to Profile Records placed him inside the networks that shaped 1980s hip-hop.

Timeline

· John Rivas was born on March 15, 1956, and is known professionally as John “Mr. Magic” Rivas.
· In 1979 he began his radio career on New York City’s WHBI with a program called Disco Showcase, an early rap radio show.
· Disco Showcase on WHBI is credited with launching the first-ever rap radio program, marking an early moment of hip-hop on commercial airwaves.
· In the early 1980s Inner City Broadcasting program director Frankie Crocker brought Mr. Magic to WBLS.
· At WBLS he hosted Rap Attack, which became the first dedicated hip-hop show on a major-market station.
· Rap Attack featured DJ Marley Marl on the boards and served as a platform for early hip-hop records and performers.
· Mr. Magic was a member of the Juice Crew, linking him to one of hip-hop’s formative artist networks.
· He was associated with releases and projects on Profile Records during his career.
· John “Mr. Magic” Rivas died on October 2, 2009.