Boston native Victor Pontes-Macedo, better known by fans and bandmates as MC Exposition or “Expo” and frontman of Long Beach-based hip-hop group Audible Mainframe, died of stomach cancer on Thursday. He was 31.
As noted on the band’s official website, Pontes-Macedo’s career with the six-member hip-hop group Audible Mainframe began in Boston in 2003. The group performed with many big name groups including LMFAO, Damian Marley, Slick Rick and Biz Markie. Their first album reached 14 on the college charts. Pontes-Macedo himself was a two-time Boston M.I.C. Award winner (Best Underground Artist and Best Underground Hip Hop Band).
Before the group migrated to Los Angeles in 2006, they had collected a number of awards, including the 2006 Mass Industry Award for “Best Underground Act” and (for Pontes-Macedo) “Best Underground Emcee”. They won both the 2004 “Battle of the Bands” competition hosted by Boston’s 107.3 FM WAAF and another in California, put on by Long Beach’s The District Weekly.
Born and raised in Boston, Pontes-Macedo returned to his home in Medford following his diagnosis of stomach cancer. In a blog post on the band’s official website, in August, he wrote about his decision: “I have been greeted by the warm embrace of my loving family. It seems weird to say I feel lucky, but if I have to be in this situation, I feel lucky to be surrounded by so many loving, caring people.”
His formal obituary, published in the Boston Globe, notes that he was surrounded by friends and family.
“Last night the world lost a legend. And we lost our friend, brother and leader,” read a post on Audible Mainframe’s Facebook page. “Words can’t even begin to describe how much he will be missed. Vic, you’ve got your wings on, ready to fly…onto that bicycle path up in the sky. Rest In Peace, Comrade.”
Pontes-Macedo is survived by his parents, Goretti Pontes-Macedo and Jose Macedo, and his brother Daniel.
Visiting hours will be held tonight from 4-8 p.m. at the Rogers Funeral Home in Cambridge. A celebration of his life will be held at the funeral home tomorrow at 10 a.m.
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