- Aasiya Niaz
- 12 Minutes ago
Eminem mourns longtime Shade 45 DJ Lord Sear after death at 53
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- Aasiya Niaz
- 4 Minutes ago
Veteran radio personality Lord Sear, a long-time voice on Shade 45, has died at the age of 53, prompting tributes from across the hip-hop community including rapper Eminem.
Sear, born Steve Watson, died on Wednesday, according to a post shared by Shade 45. He had been part of the SiriusXM channel’s on-air lineup for more than two decades.
Eminem paid tribute to the DJ on Instagram, remembering both their friendship and the humour he brought to the station.
“Sear was one of the greatest people to be around,” Eminem wrote. “I will never forget how he made me laugh on our tour together. Our time on Shade 45 together was always some of my favourite interviews.”
Eminem’s longtime manager Paul Rosenberg also reflected on their early friendship in New York.
“One of my earliest friends when I moved to NY in ’96 was DJ @lordsear,” Rosenberg wrote on Instagram. “There’s very few people as endearing, as humorous and that could light up a room and entertain in the way that he could. We are all lucky to have experienced his gift.”
Shade 45 announced it would dedicate Sear’s regular time slot on Thursday to a tribute broadcast, inviting friends, family and listeners to call in and share memories.
Tributes also poured in from across the hip-hop world, including artists such as DJ Premier, Royce da 5’9″, Xzibit, Big Boi, Fat Joe, E-40 and Busta Rhymes.
“Man, I’m having trouble processing that our brother is gone,” wrote B-Real on Instagram. “RIP to my loved one.”
Before joining Shade 45, Sear was part of the influential 1990s underground hip-hop radio programme The Stretch Armstrong and Bobbito Show, which helped introduce new rap talent to wider audiences.
He was also known for his sharp humour on-air, frequently roasting callers and guests during his radio segments.
Beyond radio, Sear lent his voice to characters in the video games Grand Theft Auto III and Grand Theft Auto IV.
In a tribute post on social media, Shade 45 said Sear had left a lasting mark on the hip-hop community.
“He helped shape the culture at every level,” the station wrote.
No cause of death has been revealed.
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