2023
LL COOL J
DJ Kool Herc is one of hip-hop’s founding fathers. Inventing “the break” with two turntables and a mixer, and rapping over the loops, he created the blueprint for hip-hop and set the stage for future artists and DJs to build upon. Herc was instrumental in developing the culture and community of hip-hop and helping to make a space for young people to express themselves creatively through music and dance.
Induction
Impact
Signature Sound
Jamaican-born DJ Kool Herc brought sound system traditions from his homeland, “toasting” via microphone over LPs. At a Bronx party in ’73, he pioneered the “break,” using two turntables and a mixer to isolate and loop irresistible LP beats, creating endless grooves while rapping, inspiring intense, joyful dancing.
A priceless raw document recorded on cassette, featuring Kool Herc’s DJing and rapper Whiz Kid.
Herc relied on his own creativity to invent a new musical form that changed the lives of millions… No one made a bigger contribution to hip-hop culture.
LL COOL J
2024 Hall of Fame Essay
"Kool Herc dropped the turntable needle on a funky beat and committed a revolutionary act that served as the foundation of rap."
– Michael A. Gonzales
Influence
The Incredible Bongo Band
Babe Ruth
Jimmy Castor Bunch
U-Roy
Count Machuki
The Meters
DJ Kool Herc
AJ Scratch
Grand Wizard Theodore
Kurtis Blow
The Sugarhill Gang
Fatback Band
sealed with a signature
This is the signature that appears on the inductee’s plaque at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame to officially commemorate their induction.
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