Last night I found out that Matthew Africa passed away earlier this week from a car accident. Matthew Africa was a rap blogger, DJ, and host of the Stay Hatin podcast and somebody that I considered a friend. He was always really supportive of this blog, which meant a lot to me because he was probably the most knowledgeable person on rap music that I ever met. I was fortunate enough to meet him and the other guys a few months ago when they had me on the Stay Hatin podcast and Matthew was so welcoming I felt like we were old friends immediately. He was honestly one of the nicest guys I've ever met. I had been thinking to myself these past couple weeks that I should get in touch with him and see if he wanted to go to a show or go grab some beers or something, but now he's just gone...
I feel absolutely horrible about this and I can only imagine how his close friends and family feel right now. My thoughts and prayers are with them. I found out earlier this year that my best friend from high school died of an overdose and just felt numb, but this really hit me hard. Matthew was in a car driving and his life just ended. How does that make any sense??
In light of this news I really don't feel like making dumb jokes about rap music on this blog, regular posting will resume sometime in the future. I just ask that you take a moment out of your weekend to remember his life and the positive impact he had on so many people.
Rest in peace Matthew Africa.
I haven't known whether I should say anything or not, considering how little I really knew him, in the traditional sense. I mean, I found out about his death when I logged into Twitter after work. But you do come to know and respect people you know from the internet, albeit in a different way than you come to know people in real life.
ReplyDeleteI met him once, like you, to record a podcast. He was this amazingly friendly, intelligent and funny guy who really made an impression on me. I mean, he was an attorney who also DJed Bay Area rap. And he knew, like, everything there is to know about it. I think this may have been exactly a year ago today, we all got drunk on a Saturday and shot the shit about rap music.
I can't imagine what it's like to lose someone you actually know well in this way, and I pray that I never learn. My thoughts are with his family and loved ones. Rest in peace.
This guy was, and still is, a hero of mine. I used to listen to his show on KALX through the internet when I lived in Santa Rosa, just to get a taste of his superb taste in music, which covered not only everything rap but also tons and tons of other music genres. Can't even describe how I feel at the moment, as I just woke up to this. For a long time, I've aspired to be one day as knowledgeable of rap music and as cool and smart of a dude as this guy was. A serious inspiration to many of us. Goddamn... RIP
ReplyDeleteIt's incredible how many lives he touched. The Layover was bursting at the seams last night. I think that image explains Matthew's legacy better than words ever could.
ReplyDeleteThomas - please come back soon.
Thanks. I wish I could have made it out. If there is a less impromptu event for him I will definitely be there.
DeleteI don't know much about this man admittedly, but he made an E-40 mix that in my opinion is the best 40 mixx I've ever heard, and myself and my friends still talk about it all the time and bump it constantly so "DJ Matthew Africa" will live on in my area...
ReplyDeleteRIP.