Founding Fathers (DJs)

(Archive) October 27, 2005 Yard Rock Newsletter
Founding Fathers (DJs)
By: DISTRAKT

PHOTOS BY: WAYNE SORCE

I have to let you know exactly what inspired me to do what I do today and give high respect to the founding fathers. I could write a whole book about the history of these brothers, but today I’m going to give you a brief lesson.

It began in 1973 A.D. the physical location was the housing complex at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue in the Bronx. DJ Kool Herc (aka Clive Campbell) laid the foundation of Hip Hop music by backing up breaks in a record using two turntables to prolong the beats to rock a party. Herc brought his sound system, the Herculords, which was the loudest system in the park. DJ Kool Herc began formulating a new language of expression that would eventually cross all borders of the planet. The man set it off.

Afrika Bambaataa a DJ and community leader from the South Bronx. He's also known from his breakthrough group, the Soul Sonic Force. In the early ‘70s Bam ran a gang in New York. Coming through that unharmed, Bambaataa decided to use his leadership to turn those involved in the gang life into something more positive to the community. Bam is the founder of the Zulu Nation, the single most enduring institution in Hip Hop. Zulu Nation STANDS FOR: Knowledge, Wisdom, Understanding, Freedom, Justice, Equality, Peace, Unity, Love, Respect, Work, Fun, Overcoming the Negative to the Positive, Economics, Mathematics, Science, Life, Truth, Facts, Faith. Inspired by DJ Kool Herc, Bambaataa was organizing block parties around the South Bronx. “Nobody had more records than Bam.”, Grandmaster Flash told one interviewer.

Grandmaster Flash (Joseph Saddler) is the FIRST DJ to make the turntable an instrument. Flash was intrigued with the possibilities the technology surrounding music suggested for innovation. The concept of cutting – the backbone of Hip Hop Djing came out of his laboratory (with assistance from his friend Grand Wizard Theodore another great who created scratching) Flash’s introduction of the “Beat Box” was a wired drum box into a mixer. When the music would stop from the record, Flash would come in with the drum box so you couldn’t tell where the music stopped and Flash started. This turned DJs from beat mixers to beat makers and building blocks of rapping as we know it were laid.

Look, if it was not for the DJs nobody would know what time it is. To me the DJ is the gatekeeper of sound on the street. Respect the DJ for giving the soundtrack to most peoples lives. Like to give shouts to the Furious Five, Jazzy Jay, Busy Bee, Kurtis Blow, Kevi Kev. -Distrakt Know the history on a culture that has united all types of people from around the world. Corporate entities have distorted the origin of Hip Hop. Hip Hop is not all about thugs, drugs, disrespect of women, who’s got the shiniest jewels and wheels. It’s much bigger than that. For more in depth knowledge here’s some links.

http://www.daveyd.com

http://www.sedgwickandcedar.com

http://www.templeofhiphop.org

http://www.grandmasterflash.com

http://www.zulunation.com


http://www.rapstation.com

http://www.oldschoolhiphop.com/artists.htm

http://www.rocksteadycrew.com