DJ Kool Herc

Clive Campbell, known by his stage name DJ Kool Herc, is a Jamaican American DJ and a pioneer of hip hop music in the Bronx, New York City. Born on April 16, 1955, he earned the nickname 'Father of Hip-Hop' for his influential contributions. Campbell started by playing hard funk records, focusing on the instrumental portions and emphasizing the drum beat known as the 'break.' He would switch between breaks using two copies of the same record, creating a technique that formed the foundation of hip hop music. Campbell's announcements and encouragement to dancers also helped popularize rapping. His terms 'b-boys' and 'b-girls' are still used in the sport of breaking today.