According to several confirmed reports, DJ 50 Grand, the man who produced and put the Microphone Murderers demo tape from Biggie Smalls in the hands of Mister Cee, has passed away. 50 Grand, whose given name is Kevin Griffin, was 55 years old. Griffin first learned of a 15 year old emcee that lived nearby in his Bedford-Stuyvesant and eventually connected with the young wordsmith through a mutual friend who used to sell drugs with the late Christopher Wallace in 1991. it didnt take long before Biggie was in 50s basement on Bedford Avenue and Quincy Street recording what would become the launching pad to the career of the games most revered emcee in its history.


Griffin managed to get the tape into the hands of DJ Mister Cee, Big Daddy Kanes DJ, who slipped the tape to Matteo Matty C Capoluongo, who ran the Unsigned Hype column in The Source Magazine. The feature article caught the attention of a young exec at Uptown Records by the name of Sean Puffy Combs and the rest is history.

50s Bed-Stuy neighborhood showed out for the legendary neighborhood DJ, coming out in droves to the corner of Nostrand Avenue and Monroe Street to show their respects to their fallen legend. Salute to 50 Grand and condolences to his family and friends.

Listen to the classic demo track "Microphone Murderer" recorded by Notorious B.I.G. and produced by now the late Kevin " 50 Grand " Griffin in 1991. This recording would lead to Biggie's exposure on the " Unsigned Hype " section of the Source Magazine.


Source: TheSource.com
*Shot out to B.I.G. forum member bigfan1997 for posting this news source