DJ Clark Kent was a music insider and hip-hop producer who played a role in the rise of some of the genre’s biggest stars, including Jay-Z and Notorious B.I.G.
- Died: October 24, 2024 (Who else died on October 24?)
- Details of death: Died in Green Brook, New Jersey of colon cancer at the age of 58.
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DJ Clark Kent’s legacy
Brooklyn-born Rodolfo Antonio Franklin II was better known to the world by his stage name. He was given the nickname because he wore glasses in his youth, and he embraced it when forming his crew of DJs, The Supermen.
Kent began his career as a DJ for rapper Dana Dane in the 1980s, playing gigs in New York City and becoming MC for the New Music Seminar, which became Clark Kent’s Superman Battle for World Supremacy. Before long, he was helping create regional hits that also helped launch the careers of future superstars. Notably, he produced “Player’s Anthem” by Junior M.A.F.I.A., which was the first song to feature Lil’ Kim and was an early track with Notorious B.I.G., the group’s founder.
Perhaps more significantly, he introduced record executive Damon Dash to the then-unknown Jay-Z. Kent also produced three tracks on Jay-Z’s debut album, “Reasonable Doubt,” and connected him to Notorious B.I.G. for the recording of “Brooklyn’s Finest.” He also produced Mariah Carey’s hit track, “Loverboy.”
Over the years, Kent has also worked with Rick Ross, Slick Rick, Queen Latifah, Rakim, Fugees, Ice Cube, Das EFX, Kanye West, and many other artists. He was also well-known for his love of sneakers, boasting a collection of thousands.
On the power of hip-hop in a community:
“It’s so much that this thing has given. This governing body of hip-hop has given back to people who really didn’t have a lot of hope; out of a desperation for something that feels beautiful.” — interview with BET, 2023
Tributes to DJ Clark Kent
Full obituary: The New York Times
