Father of Hip Hop Ill, With Looming Medical Bills

Davey D is a blogger and hip hop activist.

The Father of Hip Hop Culture, DJ Kool Herc, is very sick. He needs surgery, has financial difficulties and has no health insurance. In short, he’s in dire straits.

I have long dreaded the day when I would read this type of story. How many of our pioneering heroes and sheroes, not just in Hip Hop but in other music genres and in Black history, have gone down this road? One would hope that after 35 years, and with those of us in Hip Hop having the luxury of hindsight and knowing the history of those who suffered similar fates, this scenario would not be happening. Sadly, we see history repeating itself.

What’s going on with the Father of Hip Hop, Kool Herc, is not only a commentary on the callousness of our society that wishes to slam other countries who allow their people to suffer for being “less than civilized”, but its also a commentary on us.

No,  I don’t expect every deejay, emcee and break dancer to dig into their pockets and give money. We’ve done this time and time again. From Sam Sneed to MC Breed, the Hip Hop community has had to hold some sort of fundraiser to help folks with medical expenses. We all recall the tragic passing of Professor X from the X-Clan.  He could not afford medical care when he was feeling sick; a few weeks later he passed away.

Many forget that the great J-Dilla was in major financial straits when it came to his medical care. I recall his mom working with the Hip Hop Caucus to speak about that situation.

Many “regular folks” must choose between paying skyrocketing rents or dropping exorbitant Blue Shield coverage — Davey connects that to Kool Herc’s predicament here.