Today we pay tribute to one of Hip Hop’s unsung pioneers, DJ Roc Raida.  A member of one of the most dynamic performing DJ crews in Hip Hop, the X-Ecutioners, Roc Raida succumbed to injuries obtained last week after suffering a spinal cord injury during a mixed martial arts practice session.  Though he underwent two succesful surgeries and was reportedly making progress his health quickly turned for the worse and died Saturday at the age of 37.

The group which consisted of Raida, whose real name is Anthony Williams, Rob Swift, Total Eclipse, and Mista Sinista endured many battles with DJ Clark Kent’s Supermen crew.  Personally Raida won the DMC World DJ Championship title in 1995, was a member of DJ Enuff’s Heavy Hitters and produced tracks for Fat Joe, Ghostface Killah, Linkin Park and Pink. Busta Rhymes offered this quick eulogy via Twitter.

busaBusss: “I am sorry 2 say that on this day at 2:05 Sept 19th we lost another incredible life…Dj Roc Raida died 2day my personal Dj is gone… I just wanna thank everyone 4 ur love and support and ur prayers …We will never let ur name die Roc…We love u and will 4ever miss u…RIP.”

busaBusss: I just wanna thank everyone 4 ur love and support and ur prayers…We will never let ur name die Roc…We love u and will 4ever miss u…RIP

busaBusss: I just wanna thank everyone 4 ur love and support and ur prayers…We will never let ur name die Roc…We love u and will 4ever miss u…RIP

Here’s video footage from Raida’s last performance