DJ Hollywood (born Anthony Holloway; December 10, 1954) is an American MC and disc jockey.[1] His rhythmic MC sets have led him to be credited as one of the first-ever rappers.
DJ Hollywood | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Anthony Holloway |
| Born | December 10, 1954 Harlem, New York, U.S. |
| Genres | Hip hop |
| Occupation(s) | Disc jockey, MC |
| Years active | 1971–present |
Career
editIn the 1970s, DJ Hollywood became known for DJ sets during which he addressed the audience with rhythmic call-and-response segments. In contrast to earlier MCs like Coke La Rock, who simply spoke over backing tracks, DJ Hollywood incorporated rhythm and rhyme into his sets, which has led him to be described as the progenitor of "hip-hop-style rapping" by figures such as Kurtis Blow and author Jonathan Abrams.[2] Abrams identifies DJ Hollywood's influences as Jocko Henderson, Pigmeat Markham, Gil Scott-Heron, and Rudy Ray Moore.[2]
In 1978 and 1979, DJ Hollywood was the first DJ to bring turntables and a mixer to perform at the Apollo Theater.[3] Before long, club owners in the South Bronx hired Hollywood to play at a club called Club 371.[3]
Most of DJ Hollywood's body of musical work was live, not recorded, although he did release a single "Shock Shock The House" in 1980 on CBS Records. Until the mid-1980s, Hollywood was one of the top DJs. He retired from the business and struggled with drug addiction. He has since returned to performing in the New York City area, appearing with Tha Veteranz which reunited him with his former partner Lovebug Starski.[4]
DJ Hollywood is featured in the 2024 PBS series Disco: Soundtrack of a Revolution.[5]
References
edit- ^ Mark Skillz (November 19, 2014). "DJ Hollywood: The Original King of New York". Medium. Retrieved October 12, 2015.
- ^ a b Abrams, Jonathan (2022). The Come Up: An Oral History of the Rise of Hip-Hop. Crown. p. 17. ISBN 9781984825155.
- ^ a b Colin Larkin, ed. (1998). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Dance Music (First ed.). Virgin Books. p. 88. ISBN 0-7535-0252-6.
- ^ "DJ Hollywood | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
- ^ "Disco: Soundtrack of a Revolution | Rock the Boat | Episode 1 | PBS". PBS.
Further reading
edit- DJ Hollywood; Lucio Dutch (2014). It's Star Time. Caramel City Publications. ISBN 978-0-9767-0827-8.
External links
edit- DJ Hollywood discography at Discogs