“I got to have it, I miss Mr. Magic”. Of course Nas immortalised Sir Juice on his album Illmatic but this New York rap radio pioneer was breaking records some 10 years prior to Nasty’s opus. Magic paved the way for many a personality jock and for anyone who has fiddled with the Dolby switch on their cassette deck playing a third hand C90 to get a good listen of him spinning one of the many seminal hip-hop masterpieces you’ll understand the importance of this man in hip-hop history. Magic broke the mould before the plaster had even set paving the way for Red, Marley and Flex to follow in his footsteps. Simply put, he broke most of the records which form the blueprint of what we still love to this very day.

Will C has dedicated his latest project to the radio legend and is available by way of limited edition deluxe package HERE. We have one to give away so answer this simple question: What’s Vanilla Ice’s real name? (answers to fatlacemagazine@gmail.com) We hooked up with Will C to ask him about the project. He not only answered our questions but also gave us some exclusive Fat Boys and T.J. Swan audio, scroll down for that, you heard it here first. Enjoy.

Where are you based and when did you first start collecting old NY radio tapes?

What up Fat Lace! I’m based outta Boston, MA. I started collecting all these NYC radio tapes back in high school, and it’s been a snowball effect ever since!

What was it about NY rap radio that was so magnetic?

I think it’s a combination of two things. First, the shows are just so dope. You never know what the personalities are going to say, you never know what the spontaneity will lead to. A now legendary DJ might drop an alternate version of your favorite track. An artist might come into the studio for an interview and be buggin. I mean, who doesn’t think a conversation on the Rap Attack between Magic and a young LL Cool J is great? Especially when Cool J is dropping the “N” word on WBLS and Magic’s having to catch him, laughing about it in the process. The shows provide an unscripted masterpiece and snapshot of an era. Secondly, there are tapes to be found, and they aren’t easy to come by. The natural collector in me is intrigued by this. It’s like I wrote in a recent article on Down The Dial’s origins “…Enter the digital age: a small handful of busted tapes circulate on the internet as MP3s, hunted down by both those who have a nostalgic urge to hear an important part of their childhood, and those of a new generation trying to hear what all the fuss is about. The result is not quite the real thing. The MP3s are partial shows pieces of a dream.” Case in point, it’s hard to get your hands on quality shows.

Do you think any of the old principles set out by the early radio pioneers still exist today?

Not really, things have definitely changed. Ask anybody and they’ll say “radio sucks now,” though you may have to get that out of them in a private conversation. I’m not in NY listening to current NY radio, so I’d feel uncomfortable and foolish to delve into the state of things. I will say I’m glad to hear names like Chuck Chillout and Red Alert still doing their thing on the radio. In earlier days of the Rap Attack, hip hop wasn’t the cultural juggernaut it is now. Magic and other radio DJs had a great power, and sometimes I feel like they were more responsible with that power. In a time when MTV wasn’t really giving rap shine (think pre-“Yo! MTV Raps”), playing a record on the radio was a multi-faceted tool and medium used to break artists and test the waters with new projects. Without a doubt the DJs and on-air personalities had greater creative control back then.

How did you hook up with Mr. Magic?

I met Magic behind the scenes when I had the opportunity to work on some of the more recent Cold Chillin’ reissues. I did some liner notes and project coordination. We met through those projects, and thankfully it didn’t take long for him to recognize my appreciation for his legacy.

Did it take a minute for him to take you seriously?

It’s funny you say that. Although it didn’t take Magic long to recognize my appreciation for everything he’s done in hip hop, he didn’t see it instantly. Can you blame him though? I’m significantly younger than him and not from his area. I met him and Fly Ty the same day, and Ty was saying “DO YOU KNOW WHO THIS MAN IS?!? THE FIRST MAN TO PLAY RAP ON THE RADIO!” It was kinda like his way of rolling out the red carpet through speech, hyping his partner in crime. But as we got to talking, they started to see where I was coming from too. Magic had a briefcase with him that day, and eventually he opened it and showed me some old cassettes he had of the Rap Attack. Eventually I got to check out his entire back catalogue of tapes which was a very inspiring and memorable moment in my career. I learned a lot listening closely to the tapes and the stories Magic and Ty had to share. Shouts to Starrlite for taping a good deal of those shows for Magic!

How long did the project take to pull together?

I kinda feel like it’s been building up in my mind since way back in high school, with the seeds being planted as I absorbed the show’s format. I’d say I didn’t actively start working on it until I recorded the original version of “New York Class” back in ’06, but even then I didn’t know it would be for a full blown Rap Attack retrospective. It feels like it was the type of project that came out naturally over time.

Are there any plans for a follow up or focus on another DJ like Red Alert?

It’s something I’ve thought about, definitely. I’m not going to make another mastermix project though unless I come across a concept that pulls me in. The artist in me wants to do something right if it’s going to be done at all. If any of the legendary radio hosts were to get in touch with me with interest in a similar project, then it’d be on but I don’t want to ever be a pain to somebody I respect. The focus right now is on the Will C. album, though. It’s time to pull a K-Solo and tell the world my name.

Anything else to add?

I want to make sure to send a shout out to my Mom and my Dad, which I haven’t yet had a chance to do in any interviews. And check this out, a special treat for all the Fat Lace frequenters

This is a truly special recording that I’m happy to share. The date is April 20, 1984, and a fresh, seemingly reserved and shy group known as the Fat Boys are about to have their brand new single (“Fat Boys”) debuted on the Rap Attack. An absolutely classic record being spun for the first time definitely sends chills up my spine. For those unaware, their manager, Charles Stettler, played Beiker in “Krush Groove.” Enjoy this one!

Fat Boys Interview and “Fat Boys” World Premiere- Mr. Magic’s Rap Attack, April 20, 1984

And for good measure, who can’t appreciate this TJ Swan drop from the Rap Attack?

Sing it, Swan!