DJ Kool facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
DJ Kool
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| Birth name | John W. Bowman Jr. |
| Born | March 20, 1958 Washington, D.C., U.S. |
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| Years active | 1979–present |
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John W. Bowman Jr. (born March 20, 1958), known as DJ Kool, is an American rapper and DJ. He became famous for his fun, high-energy rap songs in the late 1980s and 1990s.
Contents
DJ Kool's Music Journey
DJ Kool grew up in Washington, D.C.. He spent many years performing in the city's unique music scenes, especially go-go and rap. Go-go is a lively style of music from D.C. that mixes funk, rhythm and blues, and hip hop. These experiences really shaped his music style.
His Biggest Hit: "Let Me Clear My Throat"
In 1996, DJ Kool released his most famous song, "Let Me Clear My Throat". This song became a huge hit around the world. It reached the top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the U.S. and even made it into the top 10 in the UK and Netherlands in 1997.
The song is well-known for using "samples." Sampling is when a musician takes a small part of an existing song and uses it in their new song. "Let Me Clear My Throat" uses a famous part from "The 900 Number" by the 45 King. That song itself used a sample from "Unwind Yourself" by Marva Whitney. DJ Kool's song also starts with a sample from "Hollywood Swinging" by Kool & the Gang.
"Let Me Clear My Throat" is still a very popular song for dancing and parties today!
Other Collaborations
DJ Kool also worked with other artists. In 2001, he was featured on the song "Let's Get Dirty (I Can't Get in da Club)" by the rapper Redman.
DJ Kool's Music Releases
DJ Kool has released several albums and singles throughout his career.
Popular Albums
His album Let Me Clear My Throat, released in 1996, was his most successful. It reached number 161 on the main U.S. album chart, the Billboard 200. It also did very well on the R&B/Hip-Hop charts.
Hit Singles
- "Let Me Clear My Throat" (1996)
