Dj Kool Herc Forefather of Hip-Hop
Today we celebrate the birth of Hip-Hop and its creators. One of the original creators of Hip-Hop is Dj Kool Herc. Herc was born in Kingston, Jamaica; he and his family moved to the Bronx when Herc was around 12. Herc and his family moved to 1520 Sedgwick Ave, this address would later become the birthplace of Hip-Hop.
Herc became interested in music and convinced his parents to buy him a turntable. At this time in the Brox, it became increasingly difficult for Black teenagers to find places that catered to their taste in music. In an effort to create a space that catered to him and his peers; Herc took it upon himself to began throwing house parties. Herc thought he was just creating something fun. Unbeknownst to him, he was becoming one of the forefathers of Hip-Hop.
At his parties, Herc introduced The merry-go-round. Herc would have two records on his turntable, and he would go from the break on one record to the break on the other. This became legendary among all DJs, it’s a method that is still used to this day.
During this time, everything was about the DJ. The Dj was the most important part of the party and the newly discovered Hip-Hop scene. However, Herc also contributed to the rhyming style and schemes that Djs would spit while on playing records. This eventually transitioned rappers becoming their own element of Hip-Hop.
Over the last 47 years, Hip-Hop has changed a lot. Some changes have been good, some have been bad. However, one thing that has remained is, it is still a voice for the voiceless. It still offers people who feel left out, a chance to tell their story. It still offers a place of comfort for people who feel like they have nowhere to go, the same way 1520 Sedgwick Ave did. Dj Kool Herc is a living legend, and we thank him for creating a platform for us to let our voices be heard.
