PART C

My inspiration - DJ Kool - Herk 

[1967- present]

Kool DJ Herc or DJ Kool as he’s famously known is an American Hip-hop artist whose power within the music industry was well known in the 1970’s. His image was generated in New York City through a style called ‘hard funk’ which outlines the live style of gang violence and slang interpretation by alternative music expression. It imitates the violent gang culture of ‘the Bronx’ and the popular disco style music which he played a big role in during the 70’s.

Born into a family of Jamaican decent and one of 6, his early life and education lead to ‘The Bronx’ new York where his taste for music further expanded, immigrating to such a city of such vast and rich musical culture, at the age of 12 he attended ‘Alfred E. Smith career and technical Education High school’ at which similarly a violent atmosphere of gangs and instability grew during 1973.

His ‘Break and style development came through solo records as Herc used the focus of on a short, heavily part of the ‘break’. During the 70’s it was favoured so he isolated the break and prolonged it by changing two record players; as one record ran out he put in the following to elongate the music at his disposal. His music on the street became inspiration as he developed his passion throughout the 70’s as he became a ‘influential artist’. During his later years he appeared in Hollywood’s motion pictures  to take on hip-hop, beat street in the 1980’s (1984, Orion).