DJ Hollywood facts for kids

DJ Hollywood (born Anthony Holloway on December 10, 1954) is an American MC and disc jockey. He is known for his unique way of talking over music. Many people say he was one of the very first rappers. He helped create the style of rapping we know today.

Early Days of Hip Hop

In the 1970s, DJ Hollywood became famous for his DJ sets. During these sets, he would talk to the audience in a rhythmic way. He used a style called "call-and-response." This is when the performer says something, and the audience responds.

Unlike earlier MCs who just spoke over music, DJ Hollywood added rhythm and rhymes to his words. This made his performances sound like early rapping. Because of this, people like Kurtis Blow and author Jonathan Abrams call him a pioneer of "hip-hop-style rapping." Abrams notes that DJ Hollywood was inspired by performers such as Jocko Henderson, Pigmeat Markham, Gil Scott-Heron, and Rudy Ray Moore.

Performing and Legacy

DJ Hollywood made history in 1978 and 1979. He was the first DJ to bring turntables and a mixer to perform at the famous Apollo Theater. This was a big deal for DJs and for the growing hip hop scene. Soon after, clubs in the South Bronx hired him to play. One of these was Club 371.

Most of DJ Hollywood's music was performed live. He did not record many songs in a studio. However, he did release a single called "Shock Shock The House" in 1980. This song was released on CBS Records.

DJ Hollywood was one of the top DJs until the mid-1980s. After taking a break from performing, he later returned to the music scene. He has appeared with a group called Tha Veteranz. This group reunited him with his former partner, Lovebug Starski.

In 2024, DJ Hollywood was featured in a PBS television series. The series was called Disco: Soundtrack of a Revolution. It explored the history and impact of disco music.

See also

In Spanish: DJ Hollywood para niños