On this date, we celebrate the born day of the very first person to be considered an emcee in the culture we now call Hip Hop; Coke La Rock.
“Now way back in the days when hip-hop began With Coke La Rock, Kool Herc, and then Bam” – KRS-1 “South Bronx”
Today marks the 69th birthday of Coke La Rock, the man recognized as the very first emcee to rock the mic. He can tell you about the very first party that DJ Kool Herc threw for his sister on August 11, 1973, the day distinguished as Hip-Hop’s birthday. He was there because he was an original member of the Herculoids crew and his job was to be the Master of the Ceremony.
Two Hip-Hop staples that originated with the king are party chants you have definitely heard before. They are, “You rock and you don’t stop” and “Hotel, motel, you don’t tell, we won’t tell.” Most people believe that these lines were originated by the Sugar Hill Gang, but just like they stole lyrics from Grandmaster Caz, they also swipe these transitional hooks from La Rock.
Other people inspired by him (and you can tell this by their names) were the late Scott La Rock of BDP and T La Rock.
Happy birthday to this legend on his birthday and wish him many more hereafter!!
On the momentous occasion of Hip Hop’s 50th birthday, the genre’s birthplace, The Bronx, will host an unforgettable and celebratory concert. Hip Hop 50 Live, taking place at Yankee Stadium on Friday, August 11, promises to be a can’t-miss event that will bring together the biggest names in the industry.
The highlight of the evening will be the much-anticipated Bottom of the Ninth…The Walk-Off performance by the legendary Run DMC. Joining them on the stage will be an impressive lineup of artists, including Lil Wayne, Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, and many more yet to be announced. Additionally, a special Queens of Hip Hop set will showcase the talent of Eve, Lil Kim, Remy Ma, Trina, and other prominent female artists in the genre.
The lineup continues to impress with additional performers such as T.I., Fat Joe, Common, A$AP Ferg, EPMD, Ghostface Killah, Lupe Fiasco, and Slick Rick. Another captivating segment of the concert, titled Pillars of Hip-Hop, will pay homage to the influential figures who helped shape the genre. This set will feature Kool Herc & Cindy Campbell, Grandmaster Caz, Kurtis Blow, Melle Mel, Roxanne Shante, Scorpio, and the Sugar Hill Gang. Furthermore, a “Legendary DJ” set will showcase the incredible skills of Clark Kent, Marley Marl, Mannie Fresh, and Battlecat.
Tickets for Hip Hop 50 Live at Yankee Stadium will go on sale starting Thursday, June 8 at 10 a.m. EST, with presale opportunities available until 10 p.m. EST. The general on-sale will commence on Friday, June 9 at 10 a.m. EST. Ticket prices will begin as low as $50, ensuring a wide range of accessibility for fans. As a token of appreciation to the community, early bird ticket access will be granted to various organizations, including Renaissance Youth Center, New Settlement, SCAN-Harbor, and several Boys & Girls Clubs and YMCA branches.
Co-produced by Mass Appeal, Live Nation, and the New York Yankees, Hip Hop 50 Live at Yankee Stadium is an unforgettable experience. While additional acts are yet to be revealed, the concert is already set to make history. The lineup is subject to change, with more exciting announcements expected in the coming weeks.
The creative team behind the event is nothing short of exceptional. EMMY Award-winner and CEO of BASSic Black Entertainment, Adam Blackstone, known for his role as the musical director of the electrifying halftime show at Super Bowl LVI, will serve as the managing creative music director. Joining him is partner and producer/keyboardist Omar Edwards, who has previously worked as the musical director for JAY-Z.
Hip Hop 50 Live at Yankee Stadium promises to be a once-in-a-lifetime celebration of Hip Hop’s monumental milestone, paying tribute to its rich history while embracing the genre’s vibrant future.
“I am honored to hit the stage in the Bronx, the birthplace of Hip Hop and celebrate all of my heroes,” said RUN.
“Aug 11th is Hip Hop’s 50th birthday! So…’Up in the Bronx’ where it all started we will be celebrating this historic moment in history! I am honored to pay tribute to the culture that allowed this little shy kid from Queens to grow up and become The Mighty King of Rock! Thank you Hip Hop!!!” said DMC.
On this day in 1955, DJ Kool Herc was born Clive Campbell in Kingston, Jamaica. He moved to the Bronx when he was 12 years old and took on the name “Kool Herc” when he became a member of the graffiti crew the “Ex-Vandals”. The name is short for ‘Hercules’ because of his 6′ 4″ stature. He began DJing parties that he and his sister Cindy threw in their building, which was on 1520 Sedgewick Avenue(Sedgewick & Cedar) in the South Bronx.
Herc pioneered extending the breakbeat on records by playing the same record on two turntables and cueing the “break” in the record, which he noticed had the greatest effect on the dancers at the parties. This was emulated all over the NYC area during the 1970s, thus spawning the culture of Hip Hop. He coined the terms “B-Boys” and “B-Girls” for the dancers who were “breaking”, which Herc says was street slang for “acting energetically” or “causing a disturbance”.
Kool Herc has influenced other founding pioneers of Hip Hop culture including Afrika Bambaataa, Grandmaster Flash, and the Sugarhill Gang.
The Source would like to give Kool Herc his proper salute because without him and his contributions, none of us would have the opportunity to experience this global phenomenon known as Hip Hop!
