Legendary Hip‑Hop DJ Lord Sear Passes Away at 53

Lord Sear, a well‑known voice in hip‑hop radio, has died at the age of 53. He began his career on tour with rapper Kurious and later became a staple on WKCR’s “Stretch Armstrong and Bobbito Show, ” where he helped launch the careers of Jay‑Z, Nas and the Wu‑Tang Clan. In the 1990s he turned to recording, contributing tracks for artists such as the Beastie Boys, Big Pun, MF DOOM, The X‑Ecutioners and Statik Selektah. Sear also lent his distinctive voice to popular video games, including the “Grand Theft Auto” series.He joined SiriusXM in the 2000s, co‑hosting “The All Out Show with Rude Jude” on Eminem’s Shade 45 channel and later hosting his own program, “The Lord Sear Special. ” Eminem paid tribute to him on social media, describing Sear as more than a radio personality – “a force, a friend, and family to so many of us! ” Sear’s influence spanned radio, music production, and gaming. His death has left a noticeable gap in the hip‑hop community.