Louisiana rap fans are mourning the death of Mr. Magic, the New Orleans rapper who was killed in a car accident in Mississippi last Friday.
Mr. Magic, whose real name was Awood Johnson, and his wife, Chastity Johnson, were killed just outside of Hattiesburg. They had been married for 13 years.
The couple’s 12-year-old daughter survived the crash.
Authorities have not said much about how the crash occurred. All that is known that is that the family was heading to a performance Johnson was scheduled to give.
Johnson is best known for his 1998 debut album “Sky’s the Limit,” which topped out at No. 15 on the Billboard 200. Although he experienced professional setbacks for quite awhile after the release of that album, he had a hit in 2004 with “I Smoke, I Drink.”
Johnson was a respected member of the musical community. With his pronounced Southern vocal style and raspy delivery, he was given credit for introducing variety into rap music at a time when it was growing increasingly homogenous.
If there’s anything to be learned from this sad story, it’s that no one is invulnerable. Each of us, whether we are an everyday citizen or a respect rap musician, takes a risk when we get behind the wheel.
We do not say this to frighten you; we say it because it is true. Although there is not much you can do to protect yourself from “the other guy,” we hope you know that if you get into a car accident, you have rights and options after the fact.
Source: The New Orleans Times-Picayune, “New Orleans rapper Awood ‘Mr. Magic’ Johnson has died,” Alison Fensterstock, Marc 3, 2013
