Our man DJ Roc Raida, or Anthony to some of us, passed away. Tony Touch told me on the plane Saturday afternoon as we were flying back from Toronto. I came across this photo that I took of him in ‘96 during a battle at Barnard/Columbia U. Thought I’d share it with all of you. He seemed real calm and collected in it.

That’s how I remember him.

Raida and I met around 1989 through DJ Lord Sear who grew up with him in Harlem. They both would come down to 97th St. to chill at the Goat [Park] with our crew, and we’d snap, bug out, talk about kicks, whatever.

When Stretch and I got on WKCR 89.9FM Thursday nights, we put the X-MEN (later named the X-cutioners) turntablists featuring Raida, Sean C, Rob Swift, Mr. Sinista, etc. on the air August 8th, 1991. It was the first time in hip hop radio history that an entire DJ crew performed live, and it was also the X-MEN’s introduction to the public. They would go on to tour the world, make DVD’s, do appearances on BET, etc.

Raida was a real cool cat. He will be missed.