DJ Kool Herc Biography: Age, Height, Parents, Wife, Children, Net Worth

Alamu TosinAugust 12, 2023

DJ Kool Herc Biography, Age, Height, Parents, Wife, Children, Net Worth – DJ Kool Herc is recognized as a Jamaican American DJ who is widely acknowledged as the creator of hip hop music during the 1970s in the Bronx, New York City.

Credited as the “Founder of Hip-Hop” and “Father of Hip-Hop,” Campbell’s influence began by spinning energetic funk records akin to those of James Brown.

Wiki

Name:	Clive Campbell
Age:	68 Years
Wife:	Unknown
Date of Birth:	April 16, 1955
Nationality:	American
Net Worth:	$2 million

DJ Kool Herc Biography

His innovative approach involved isolating the instrumental section of the record that highlighted the rhythmic drum beat, referred to as the “break,” and transitioning between different breaks.

DJ Kool Herc Age

As at time of this writing, he was 68 years old.

DJ Kool Herc Height

DJ Kool Herc stands 6′ 9″ tall.

DJ Kool Herc Parents

His parents are Keith Campbell and Nettie Campbell.

DJ Kool Herc Career

He is on record to have utilized a setup similar to disco DJs with two turntables, and he reportedly used two copies of the same record to elongate the break. This breakbeat DJ technique laid the foundation for hip hop music. Campbell’s lively announcements and encouragements to dancers contributed to the rhythmic spoken accompaniment now known as rapping.

He affectionately referred to the dancers as “break-boys” and “break-girls,” often abbreviated as b-boys and b-girls. His DJ style quickly inspired others, including Afrika Bambaataa and Grandmaster Flash.

In recognition of his pioneering influence as a renowned musician, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and this happened on May 3, 2023, under the Musical Influence Award category.

During his time at the Alfred E. Smith Career and Technical Education High School in the Bronx, Campbell gained the moniker “Hercules” due to his imposing stature and demeanor on the basketball court. After an altercation with bullies, he received support from the Five Percenters, who introduced him to New York City street culture. As part of a graffiti crew called the Ex-Vandals, he adopted the name Kool Herc. He further cemented his impact by utilizing the recreation room at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue, their residential building.

Herc’s initial sound system included two turntables connected to amplifiers and a Shure “Vocal Master” PA system with speaker columns. His playlist featured tracks like James Brown’s “Give It Up or Turnit a Loose,” Jimmy Castor’s “It’s Just Begun,” and Booker T. & the M.G.’s’ “Melting Pot.” With Bronx clubs facing gang issues and other DJs catering to an older disco crowd, Herc’s parties, promoted by his sister Cindy, found a receptive audience.

Herc’s pivotal contribution involved focusing on a short, percussive section of records called the “break.” This favored portion among dancers prompted Herc to isolate and extend it using two turntables. As one break concluded, he’d cue another record to the beginning of the break, effectively creating an extended musical loop. This technique, known as the “Merry-Go-Round,” laid the groundwork for hip hop music’s rhythmic structure.

Herc’s significant impact extended to his use of slang phrases, punctuating the music with announcements like “Rock on, my mellow!” and “B-boys, b-girls, are you ready? keep on rock steady.” His contributions solidified him as a “founding father of hip hop” and an integral figure in the genre’s inception.

On August 11, 1973, DJ Kool Herc showcased his skills at a party organized by his younger sister Cindy at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue. Aimed at raising funds for back-to-school clothes, the party showcased Campbell’s music in their apartment building. With Cindy promoting the event through flyers and meticulous planning, it became a significant milestone in the evolution of hip hop culture.