DJ Clark Kent was a true rap superhero – Andscape

When I feel of DJ Clark Kent, a certain quote at all times involves mind.

“I saw early on what happened to the industry and Jaz(-O)” – Jay-Z once said. “If Clark hadn’t encouraged me to make that first album, I don’t know where I would be.”

Kent, born Rodolfo Franklin in Panama, died Oct. 24 after a three-12 months battle with colon cancer, the statement said. posted on his Instagram. He was 58 years old. In a 12 months that has already seen profound losses in hip-hop — DJ Mister Cee, Rob StoneRich Homie Quan, Rico Wade and Fatman’s spoon simply to name a few – the lack of Kent hits a particular nerve, given his history and the style by which he passed away.

It seems trivial to say that without so-and-so, the history of hip-hop wouldn’t be the identical. However, within the case of DJ Clark Kent, the saying applies. First of all, his CV speaks for itself. His profession began within the late Nineteen Eighties as a DJ for Brooklyn rapper Dana Dane. He later DJed on the tour of Notorious B.I.G., one other Brooklyn resident. His first big hit as a producer was Junior M.A.F.I.A.’s “Player’s anthem” The song that marked Lil Kim’s first appearance on the album and that Clark coached her through was, satirically, the song that Clark and crew recorded the night Tupac Shakur was shot five times within the lobby of Quad Studios in November 1994.

Clark’s reach would extend beyond Biggie’s crew. As Jay-Z confirmed, his 1996 debut album wouldn’t have been possible without Clark’s influence. He produced three songs for the album, including “Coming of Age” and “Cashmere Thoughts”. But it was “The better of Brooklyn,” the primary of several collaborations between Jay and BIG, leading to a fun story that Clark has told several times through the years.

BIG had heard about Clark’s “man” Jay-Z for years but had never met him, although they briefly went to the identical highschool. Clark told the story “Who shot you?”, which was widely seen as a taunt towards Tupac following the Quad studio shooting. As Clark recalls, BIG recorded it as a show of lyrical dominance in front of Clark, who kept talking about “how nice” Jay-Z was. Before BIG heard the “Brooklyn’s Finest” beat, he wanted to keep it to himself, but – Clark said it was for Jay. This decision irritated A LOT, but he begged Clark to be on the record. When BIG entered the studio on the night of the session, Jay-Z and Dame Dash (who Clark also he introduced Jay years earlier) I saw art. From then on, he and Jay-Z spoke on daily basis for the remainder of BIG’s life.

Over the years, Clark’s production game has only improved. He produced “The sky is the limit” within the posthumous release of BIG album – the song is probably the most introspective version of BIG. Clark also produced Mariah Carey’s 2001 smash hit “Lover” which was the number two song within the country. But even these hits only provide a glimpse into Clark’s deep and profound legacy.

DJ Clark Kent’s cultural fingerprint was profoundly diverse. If his death is a huge blow to hip-hop, his death is equally devastating to the sneaker world. Clark boasted considered one of the most important and most extensive collections known. Throughout his life, he touted several collaborations with Nike and Adidas because these brands understood the influence and credibility he brought. He became embedded within the culture as a revered figure because he loved sneakers rather more than the hoopla surrounding them. This was seen in Clark and Russ Bengston’s Quickstrike, which aired from 2013 to 2016 on Complex TV. In this system, they turned a discussion about shoes and the stories related to them into an education. According to Clark, it inspired Jay-Z and Dame Dash to develop into obsessive about the Nike Air Force 1 throughout the early years of Rocafella Records. Clark was known to purchase ridiculous amounts of AF1, wear it once and throw it away. Aside from having tens of 1000’s of kicks, perhaps his best legacy within the sneaker world is what he shared together with his fans. He routinely distributed shoes to children and homeless shelters. The scavenger hunt he led throughout New York became a Clark Kent staple.

Clark stood out for his unique talent and passions, but at the identical time he was in a position to attract people. This, amongst other things, made him the force he was – and, truth be told, at all times might be. Still, there’s a sobering reality that Clark is gone. According to the American Cancer SocietyColorectal cancer affects the Black community at a much higher rate than another group. Black men and ladies are roughly 20 percent more more likely to develop colon cancer and 40 percent more more likely to die from it than other ethnic groups. DJ Clark Kent, like Chadwick Boseman, Clarence Williams III, and even my uncle, is currently considered one of those unlucky statistics. Clark has fought privately and celebrated publicly for the past three years. Even as a terrible disease ravaged his body, it never undone what he contributed to the culture just by appearing. There’s a reason why negativity and Clark Kent never really lived in the identical airspace. The energy he dropped at hip-hop and sneakers – to each room he entered – was warmth and camaraderie.

Days after we learned of his death, the tributes are still pouring in, as they need to. What DJ Clark Kent dropped at the world now seems different – a little less vibrant and a little less revolutionary. Living in a world without Clark hurts, but knowing that he now not suffers is a small dose of spiritual medicine.

To say that Clark died “too soon” is just too easy, even essential. Partly since it’s a coping mechanism. We all use it to create tragedy. However, Clark Kent’s death is yet one more reminder that death is the tailor of morality. It at all times puts life into perspective and reminds us that we’re all on borrowed time. Clark was lovingly called “God’s favorite DJ” and now she is with Him. Even beyond the sadness of an irreplaceable cultural loss, there’s the wonder that brought DJ Clark Kent into our lives – and, more importantly, made us appreciate him while he was with us – in the primary place.