Dj Kool Herc Net Worth: The Father of Hip Hop and His Wealth

DJ Kool Herc is a Jamaican-American DJ who is widely considered one of the early pioneers of hip-hop music in New York City’s Bronx in the early 1970s.

He is best known for his pioneering technique of isolating the break, or drum beat, of a funk song and expanding it with two turntables, resulting in a continuous loop of rhythmic sound that inspired dancers and rappers.

He also developed the phrases “b-boy” and “b-girl” to describe the break dancers and rappers who attended his gatherings. Continue reading for more information.

DJ Kool Herc  Early Life

Clive Campbell, better known as DJ Kool Herc, was born on April 16, 1955, in Kingston, Jamaica. He grew up listening to the neighborhood dance clubs’ sound systems and toasting, which impacted his later approach.

In 1967, he and his family relocated to the Bronx, New York City, where he attended Alfred E. Smith Career and Technical Education High School. Because of his height and physique, his classmates dubbed him “Hercules,” which he eventually abbreviated to “Herc.”He also joined the Ex-Vandals graffiti team under the alias “Kool Herc.”

In 1973, he began DJing at his sister’s birthday party in the recreation room of their 1520 Sedgwick Avenue building, utilizing a sound setup comprised of two turntables, two amplifiers, and a PA system.

He played hard funk recordings by James Brown, Jimmy Castor, and Booker T. & the MGs, focusing on the instrumental passages that featured the drum beat or the break.

He switched from one break to another using two versions of the same song, generating a seamless flow of beats that invigorated the dancers. He also utilized a microphone to energize the crowd, call out the dancers’ names, and rhyme over the music, which became the predecessor to rapping.

His events were dubbed “Hercules,” and his supporters “Herculoids.”He also dubbed the acrobatic dancers on the floor “break-boys” and “break-girls,” or simply “b-boys” and “b-girls.” DJ Kool Herc quickly rose to prominence and began performing at larger locations, such as the Hevalo Club, the Executive Playhouse, the PAL on 183rd Street, and the Twilight Zone.

He also assembled a crew of friends, including Coke La Rock, Clark Kent, and Timmy Tim, to assist him with the equipment, MCing, and security.

Other DJs, like Afrika Bambaataa, Grandmaster Flash, and DJ Hollywood, adopted and built on his techniques. He had an impact on many early hip-hop musicians, including Kurtis Blow, The Sugarhill Gang, Run-DMC, and Public Enemy.