When legends pass away from us, it's always harder when we know them personally. Grandmaster DJ Roc Raida had only moved to the DC area a few years previous, and was turned onto to your favorite record store from some local heavy hitters on the DJ scene. He was impressed by our selection, and asked if we catered to big name DJ's by only selling choice vinyl to a select few. He was assured that we didn't play games, and that we treat all customers the same. We love to cater to those with deep pockets, but our loyal customers who spend a few dollars faithfully are NEVER put on the back burner.
I believe it was his fifth or sixth visit to our store that I finally broke down and asked him to take a picture for the store. I look at this picture and I'm so thankful he let me take it. It's a treasure that I share with you, in this the anniversary of his passing. I can't believe it's been FOUR years since he left us. Whenever I look at this picture, I can't stop thinking about how I almost didn't ask him to take it with me, and his friend DJ Book, and how, at first, he was hesitant, but obliged anyway. This picture was taken in late January, or first week of Febuary 2009. He left us September 19, 2009.
Thank you Grandmaster Roc Raida for perfecting the art of beat juggling. Thank you for forming the X-Men (later the X-Ecutioners). Thank you for the countless DJ sessions, mixtapes (in particular, the break beat tapes) that inspired countless DJ's around the world to only attempt to do what you did best. Thank you for creating one of my favorite Hip-Hop songs of all time, O.C.'s "Time's Up". Last, but not least, thank you for gracing our store with your presence, and being the humble brother didn't pull his celebrity card. You only wanted to know if we had good records and kept coming back because you felt we did. THANK YOU. -Marshall
REST IN PEACE
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