On This Day in Music: The Birth of Hip-Hop

August 11, 1973 The Birth of Hip-Hop

Clive Campbell (aka DJ Kool Herc) and his sister Cindy threw a back-to-school school party in the rec room of an apartment building in the Bronx. DJ Kool Herc played copies of the same record on two turntables, going back and forth between the records to loop the percussion and keep the beat going. Rap, or hip-hop, was born. In 2023 – the 50th anniversary of hip-hop – DJ Kool Herc was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a musical influence. That same year, the Grammys presented a tribute to the 50th anniversary with an all-star, thirteen-minute celebration of the genre. Spotify Podcast: Check out the Dave’s Music Database podcast episode The Birth of Hip-Hop: The 50th Anniversary which highlights 20 of the genre’s most important songs. It debuted August 11, 2023. For more important days in music history, check out the Dave’s Music Database history page. Resources and Related Links: Dave’s Music Database: “History Index” Dave’s Music Database: “The Top 100 Rap/Hip-Hop Songs” DMDB encyclopedia entry for DJ Kool Herc The50thAnniversaryOfHip-Hop.com First posted 8/24/2023.