DETROIT — Lord Sear, a fixture on Eminem's Shade 45 SiriusXM channel, died Wednesday, according to reports. The DJ was 53 years old, according to a post shared by Shade 45.

Sear, born Steve Watson, was a member of Shade 45's on-air team for more than 20 years.

"One of my earliest friends when I moved to NY in '96 was DJ @lordsear," Eminem's manager, Paul 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, & I will miss his friendship and warmth dearly."

Eminem also weighed in on Instagram, saying Sear "made the world a better place and I'm gonna seriously miss that.

"Sear was one of the greatest people to be around, I will never forget how he made me laugh on our tour together," Eminem wrote, recalling Sear's presence on Em's Anger Mangement tour. "Our time on @Shade45 together was always some of my favorite interviews."

Shade 45 will pay tribute to Sear on Thursday from 12-4 p.m., during his regular shift. Friends, family and fans are invited to call into the station to share their memories at 888-742-3345.

Among those paying tribute to the Harlem-born on-air personality on Instagram were hip-hop luminaries DJ Premier, Royce da 5'9", Kool Keith, Xzibit, Big Boi, Yasiin Bey, Westside Gunn, Teddy Riley, Fat Joe, E-40, Busta Rhymes and more.

"Man, I'm having trouble processing that our brother is gone," Cypress Hill's B-Real wrote on Instagram. "RIP to my loved one."

Sear was a part of New York's 1990s underground hip-hop radio show "The Stretch Armstrong and Bobbito Show" and was known for roasting callers and guests. In addition to the radio, Sear also lent his voice to the video games "Grand Theft Auto III" and "Grand Theft Auto IV."

"He helped shape the culture at every level," Shade 45 wrote in a tribute post shared to social media.

No cause of death was revealed.

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