Lord Sear, Eminem DJ, Dies at 52

Lord Sear, the influential DJ, radio host, and hip-hop figure known for his work with Eminem and SiriusXM's Shade 45 channel, has died at age 52. His death was announced Wednesday on social media, with no cause disclosed.

Sear, born Steve Watson in New York City on July 7, 1973, emerged in the city's underground hip-hop scene during the 1990s. He first gained notice as part of the Constipated Monkeys crew, contributing to rapper Kurious's 1994 debut album, A Constipated Monkey. Soon after, Sear joined the influential WKCR radio program The Stretch Armstrong and Bobbito Show, where he helped spotlight emerging talents including The Notorious B.I.G., Jay-Z, Nas, Wu-Tang Clan, and the Fugees. The show played a key role in breaking these artists to broader audiences during hip-hop's golden era.

In the early 2000s, Sear's career took a major turn when he toured with Eminem as a DJ on the Anger Management Tour series. The two developed a close friendship, marked by Sear's humor and energy on the road. Eminem later reflected on those experiences in a social media post Wednesday, writing, "Sear was one of the greatest people to be around. I will never forget how he made me laugh on our...