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Lord Sear, a veteran DJ and radio host, has died. Shade 45, the Eminem<\/a>-founded SiriusXM station where Lord Sear hosted shows for more than two decades, confirmed the news on social media<\/a>, but did not disclose a cause of death. He was 52.<\/p>\n \u201cSear was more than a voice on the radio,\u201d Shade 45\u2019s statement read. \u201cHe was a force, a friend, and family to so many of us!\u201d The station will run a memorial show in his honor on March 12 during his usual time slot, 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. EST, where friends and collaborators will \u201cshare memories and celebrate the incredible life he lived.\u201d<\/p>\n Born and raised in New York, Lord Sear, real name Steve Watson, first found an audience as a touring DJ for Kurious<\/a> before joining the Stretch Armstrong and Bobbito Show<\/em>\u00a0on WKCR in the 1990s. Watson eventually became a co-host on the show, which would provide an early platform for influential artists including Jay-Z<\/a>, Nas<\/a>, and Wu-Tang Clan<\/a>.<\/p>\n Watson joined Shade 45 in 2004\u2014that same year, he joined Eminem on the Anger Management World Tour. Watson began his tenure at Shade 45 as a co-host on the the<\/em> All Out Show<\/em> with Rude Jude, and later launched his own program, The Lord Sear Special<\/em>, which he hosted until his death.<\/p>\n \u201cI really like doing my show. I have fun doing it because it\u2019s what I wanna do,\u201d Watson told the blog The Real Hip-Hop<\/em><\/a> in 2017. \u201dI play what I wanna play and I talk my shit, give people credit, and still have fun\u2026It\u2019s good for me, it\u2019s good for my heart, it\u2019s good for my soul.\u201d<\/p>\n As an artist, Watson collaborated with the Beastie Boys<\/a>, MF DOOM<\/a>, Statik Selektah<\/a>, and more during his lifetime. He released two solo 12-inch singles over the course of his career, 1997\u2019s \u201cAlcoholic Vibes \/ My Hindu Love\u201d and 2000\u2019s \u201cHello! (The Wake Up Call).\u201d He also lent his voice to Grand Theft Auto III<\/em> and IV<\/em> in 2001 and 2008, respectively.<\/p>\n In the comment section of Shade 45\u2019s announcement, tributes have come from E-40<\/a>, Hit-Boy<\/a>, Mos Def<\/a>, Rapsody<\/a>, 9th Wonder<\/a>, DJ Premier<\/a>, Westside Gunn<\/a>, and others. \u201cGod bless, I know him my whole career,\u201d Fat Joe wrote. \u201cLove you Sear.\u201d<\/p>\n