NYC's DJ Spinbad dead at 46; A-Trak, El-P, Russell Peters & others pay tribute
Influential, long-running NYC DJ and producer DJ Spinbad (real name Chris Sullivan) has passed away at age 46. Cause of death is not yet known. Russell Peters, for whom Spinbad was his tour DJ for years, wrote:
This is a post I had hoped I’d never have to make but it’s with a broken heart that I have to say, bye to my brother, my friend, my DJ, one of the most creative and brilliant minds I’ve ever known… i can’t believe you’re not here anymore… trying to find the right pictures of us has me all fucked up and crying, because we have waaaay too many memories together… I love you my brother and I don’t know how to keep it together…
#RIPDjSpinbad #MyBrother
Spinbad was a DJ for NYC radio stations WWPR and WHTZ/Z100, and he released several albums and mixtapes, including a FabricLive compilation in 2004 and 1995’s highly influential Rocks the Casbah (The ’80s Megamix). “Listen, this mixtape changed the game,” A-Trak wrote, referring to the latter.
Tributes have also come in from El-P, R.A. the Rugged Man, Atmosphere, DJ Yoda, Jean Grae, DJ Z-Trip, Hot 97, and many others. You can read their tributes and stream Rocks the Casbah below.
Rest in peace, Spinbad.
Listen, this mixtape changed the game: https://t.co/LgxxQqmX3Z
— Good Bunny (@atrak) November 11, 2020
Damn, RIP DJ SPINBAD 😔 legendary talent
— Good Bunny (@atrak) November 11, 2020
https://twitter.com/therealelp/status/1326520521492738049
REST IN PEACE to NYC's own DJ SPINBAD. Super talent and innovator. Damn.
— R.A. the Rugged Man (@RAtheRuggedMan) November 11, 2020
DJ Spinbad. 💔💔💔💔💔💔💔
— Marco Polo (@marcopolobeats) November 11, 2020
This is so sad. I worked with Spinbad while at @Z100NewYork and he was so kind and talented. https://t.co/VMfDMRDEAW
— Vanessa Wojtusiak (@VanessaW) November 11, 2020
https://twitter.com/JeanGreasy/status/1326522971712794625
Spinbad Rest In Peace pic.twitter.com/zmROjhvwrg
— DJ Yoda 🎧 (@DJYodaUK) November 11, 2020
https://twitter.com/atmosphere/status/1326519143680634880
RIP to DJ Spinbad who has reportedly passed away at the age of 46. 🙏
— HOT 97 (@HOT97) November 11, 2020
I remember somehow getting my hands on one of his mixtapes and that was the first time I heard “Rock The Casbah” cut up by a DJ. The stories I’ve heard from the OGs don’t compare to the light he left in this world. Sending love to the DJ community worldwide.
RIP DJ Spinbad 🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/J5uWXHL9G9
— Boul. (@CoryTownes) November 11, 2020
Fuck…my bro spinbad is gone …..Wtf! I don’t even have any words ….only pain.
— DJ Revolution (@DJRevolution) November 11, 2020
Man… I have no words.
RIP @djspinbad— DJ Z-TRIP (@ztrip) November 11, 2020
I don’t know much about him, but those Spinbad tapes I was able to get my hands on in the 90s were magical. Sorry for your loss. 🙏🏻
— Sage Francis (@SageFrancis) November 11, 2020
.@djspinbad mixes were untouchable and heavily influenced how we DJ!!
His @SnoopDogg mix blew our minds and has been in rotation for ever.
Such a legend! pic.twitter.com/unevfWW5mE
— DIXON BROTHERS (@DIXONBROS) November 11, 2020
Damn. RIP DJ Spinbad. Legendary NYC DJ. Listen to his tapes all the time 🙏🏾🙏🏾
— Manny Norté (@MannyNorte) November 11, 2020
RIP dj Spinbad 😔 nyc mixtape king. His 80s megamix ‘rock the casbah’ is one of the best mixes ever made
— Jack Beats (@jackbeats) November 11, 2020
Damn….RIP Spinbad….so young….
— RJD2 (@rjd2) November 11, 2020
Rest Easy man .. . https://t.co/ephNFvOmD8
— Peter Rosenberg (@Rosenbergradio) November 11, 2020
I just heard the news of @djspinbad passing. My prayers and thoughts go out to his family. As fellow former mixshow djs on @Z100NewYork this one hurts. 😢 R.I.P.
— djriddler (@djriddler) November 11, 2020