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 most significant 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.”
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!
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 most significant 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.”
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!
We hope you all are gathered in The Bronx, or currently making your way Uptown, to join us at Cedar Playground today as we celebrate the birth of Hip-Hop with the father himself, DJ Kool Herc.
It was on this day 46 years ago (August 11, 1973) that Kool Herc threw his legendary back-to-school basement party, which would go on to create the foundation for rap through the “breakbeat” DJ technique he used to keep the party rocking. Many aspiring emcees at the time paired ‘the break’ with the rhymes flowing through their minds, jumpstarting a sound and movement that is now considered to be the most popular genre in music.
While it’s common knowledge that it all began in a rec room of his building on 1520 Sedgwick Avenue, there was another iconic venue that became a key to cultivating both Hip-Hop culture and NYC nightlife: The Black Door. Located at 1375 Prospect Ave, the rap-centric hotspot became the official meeting grounds for those intrigued by the lifestyle that was booming in The Bronx. While the days since Black Door parties had the whole BX standing lined up around the corner until almost sunrise just to get in are long gone, the venue is now considered to be an official “Neighborhood Asset” as stated in a recent report on the influence of Morissana by the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs.
Take a look below for a quick profile on The Black Door, via NYC.gov:
In the mid-1970s, soon after DJ Kool Herc had begun spinning records in the Sedgwick Avenue Rec Room, Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five began gigging at a small, new underground venue called “The
Black Door.” It was a safe haven, near the schoolyards and abandoned buildings where Flash and his crew had won fans. “Lines used to stretch around the block” and “…we’d be opening the doors at 4 in the morning getting cursed out. ‘Flash, I’ve been standing out here forever tryin’ to get in!’”
It’s because of unforgettable nights at The Black Door, along with those warehouse parties, basement bashments and schoolyard jams at 63 Park that Herc, Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five were curating, that a day like today is so important to celebrate. Here’s to another five decades of carrying on the movement!
Be sure to join us as we honor DJ Kool Herc this coming week at our SOURCE360 Festival! Reserve your tickets for all scheduled events by clicking here.
Our 6th annual SOURCE360 Festival going down next week will be four days complete with panels, nightlife events, a block party and tons of other fun-filled activations. However, we’re getting the party started early this Sunday with help from the legendary homie DJ Kool Herc to celebrate the birth of Hip-Hop in the place where it all started — The Bronx!
This Sunday (August 11), The Source invites you out to the Boogie Down for the official “Hip-Hop Celebration Day” presented by Kool Herc Productions, Council Member Vanessa L. Gibson and of course our SOURCE360 Festival. Starting at noon, we’ll all be gathering in the historical Cedar Playground (W 179 St between Cedar Ave and Sedgwick Ave) to pay homage to the exact area where Herc began this culture we call Hip-Hop nearly five decades ago. Basically, it started as a party and we plan on continuing it as a party. The festivities will go on until 6PM, so come spend the afternoon enjoying some live music and positive vibes to pregame for everything we have in store for you all next week.
Make your way Uptown for Kool Herc’s #HipHopCelebrationDay for an official Road to SOURCE360 turn-up, and be sure to get tickets to all of our scheduled SOURCE360 events by clicking here. See you this weekend!
Join us on the Road To SOURCE360 #SOURCE360 
Join us on the Road To SOURCE360 #SOURCE360 
