Melvin Barcliff (Rapper Magoo) Biography, Age, Net Worth, Wife, Family, Obituary & Wiki

Melvin Barcliff, also known as Rapper Magoo, was a hip-hop artist who rose to fame as part of the duo Timbaland & Magoo in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He collaborated with some of the biggest names in the music industry, such as Missy Elliott, Aaliyah, Ginuwine, and Playa. He passed away on August 12, 2023, at the age of 50 due to a heart attack.

Early Life & Career

Melvin Barcliff was born on July 12, 1973, in Norfolk, Virginia, United States. He grew up in a small neighborhood that was rich in music and culture. He started rapping at a young age and participated in talent shows where he covered songs by Ralph Tresvant and New Edition.

He met Timbaland, whose real name is Tim Mosley when they were teenagers in high school. They formed a group called S.B.I. (Surrounded By Idiots), which also included Pharrell Williams and Larry Live. They later joined Da Bassment Cru, a collective of rappers, singers, and instrumentalists curated by Jodeci member DeVante Swing. They signed to his label Swing Mob and moved to his house in Rochester, New York, to start recording.

Magoo introduced Missy Elliott to Timbaland, which resulted in one of the most iconic pairings in ’90s hip-hop. They worked together on Elliott’s debut album Supa Dupa Fly in 1997. Magoo said in a 2020 interview with YouKnowIGotSoul that it was “almost like God was putting pieces together.”

Parents & Siblings

According to the web search results, there is not much information available about the parents and siblings of Melvin Barcliff, also known as Rapper Magoo. He was born on July 12, 1973, in Norfolk, Virginia, United States. He grew up in a small neighborhood that was rich in music and culture. He started rapping at a young age and participated in talent shows where he covered songs by Ralph Tresvant and New Edition.

He kept his family details private and did not reveal the names of his parents or siblings. He had a close bond with his aunt Mag who raised him since he was four years old. He got his nickname Magoo from her.

Timbaland & Magoo

After leaving Swing Mob, Barcliff, and Mosley embarked on their musical journey as a duo—adopting Timbaland & Magoo—in 1995. They inked a deal with Blackground Records and debuted with the album Welcome to Our World in 1997, which went on to sell over 1.6 million records. The album featured Aaliyah and Missy Elliott on their first single Up Jumps da Boogie, which became a hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

They followed up with two more albums: Indecent Proposal in 2001 and Under Construction, Part II in 2003. The latter was a sequel to Elliott’s album Under Construction. They also contributed to several soundtracks, such as Romeo Must Die, Dr. Dolittle 2, and How High. Some of their other popular songs include Clock Strikes, We At It Again, Party People, People Like Myself, Indian Flute, and Cop That Shit.

They collaborated with artists such as Jay-Z, Twista, Ludacris, Brandy, Fatman Scoop, Sebastian, Bubba Sparxxx, Petey Pablo, and Nicole Wray. They were known for their unique style of rap and production that blended elements of funk, soul, R&B, pop, and electronic music.

Personal Life, Spouse & Girlfriend

Melvin Barcliff never discussed his personal life to the media that’s why his personal life has been always hidden. But he posted some Instagram posts with a girl named Aaliyah. He praised her for her work. Maybe he was in a relationship with her but it is not confirmed yet.

He also kept his family details private and did not reveal the names of his parents or siblings. He had a close bond with his aunt Mag who raised him since he was four years old. He got his nickname Magoo from her.

He stepped back from the spotlight after the release of Timbaland & Magoo’s third album. He said in an interview that he did not enjoy the fame and success that came with his music career. He also hinted that he was still involved in the music business but did not want people to know what he was doing.

Net Worth, Income

According to the web search results, the net worth of Melvin Barcliff, also known as Rapper Magoo, was estimated to be around $1 million as of 2023. He earned his fortune from his music career as part of the duo Timbaland & Magoo, which released three albums and several hit songs in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Melvin Barcliff also collaborated with some of the biggest names in the music industry, such as Missy Elliott, Aaliyah, Ginuwine, Jay-Z, and more. He was known for his unique style of rap and production that blended elements of funk, soul, R&B, pop, and electronic music.

Death Cause

Melvin Barcliff passed away on August 12, 2023, at the age of 50 due to a heart attack. His death was confirmed by his former collaborators Timbaland, Ginuwine, Digital Black (Benjamin Bush), Smoke E Digglera (Stephen Garrett), Missy Elliott (Melissa Arnette Elliott), and others on social media. They paid tribute to him and expressed their shock and sadness over his loss.

Melvin Barcliff Wiki, BIO