DJ Kool Herc becomes visibly emotional as he accepts the Musical Influence award at the 2023 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction.
During the induction ceremony held at Brooklyn's Barclays Center, DJ Kool Herc, born Clive Campbell, was visibly moved by the honor. LL Cool J presented the award, touching on Herc's significant contributions to the birth of hip-hop. Herc, along with his sister Cindy Campbell, accepted the award. LL Cool J recalled Herc's legendary party at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue in the Bronx on August 9, 1973, which many consider the birth of hip-hop.
In his speech, LL Cool J acknowledged that DJ Kool Herc, who hails from Jamaica, had a profound influence on New York City. He blended dancehall music and toasting from his Jamaican roots with the Bronx's emerging hip-hop scene, helping shape the culture into what it is today.
With tears in his eyes, DJ Kool Herc took the stage to accept the award and paid tribute to his parents, Keith and Nettie Campbell, as well as other Black music legends like James Brown and Harry Belafonte.
Cindy Campbell expressed her gratitude for LL Cool J's heartfelt introduction and congratulated her brother for his enduring dedication to the art form.
DJ Kool Herc joins a distinguished list of 2023 Rock Hall inductees, including Missy Elliott, Kate Bush, Chaka Khan, Sheryl Crow, George Michael, Willie Nelson, Rage Against the Machine, and the Spinners. The Rock Hall highlights that DJ Kool Herc's groundbreaking work laid the foundation for hip-hop and inspired countless artists to build upon it.
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