DJ Hollywood
DJ Hollywood is widely considered one of the most underrated and most often forgotten of the hip hop legends.
There is little information around about his involvement in the genre, but when you hear other old school artists talk about pioneers, Hollywood’s name is inevitably among the names mentioned.
He was born in 1954.
As a disco deejay in the early to mid 1970’s, he became one of the first people to rhyme over the microphone. He also became adept at mixing the break beats of songs like Kool Herc and others. He didn’t use many of the now famous hip hop breaks, rather focusing more on disco joints like “Aint No Stoppin Us Now”, “Love Is the Message”, “Sexy”, “Good Times” and “Got To Be Real.”
He gained a large following and went on to headline numerous parties and was considered one of hip hop’s earliest stars. He mixed and rhymed and had a kid who use to work with him called DJ Smalls.
He started a lot of the early rap phrases like , “Up my back and around my neck” and “Woo-Ha, got the girls in check”. He is widely known for inventing the term “hip hop”, (although others say it was his one time partner Lovebug Starski).
It should be noted that at one point Hollywood’s fame was so great, that he used to be showcased at the Apollo. WBLS used to say “Live” D.J. Hollywood live at the Apollo on 6 turntables. This was around ’79.
Unfortunately, like Kool Herc, his early and most influential work is only recorded in the memories of those that were able to see him live. Hollywood was more of a club DJ (He drew a party crowd) Herc drew the B-boy crowd.
He released a single named “Shock Shock The House” in 1980 on CBS Records.
Grandmaster Flash worked with him at one time as did Donald D and B FATS. As a matter of fact Donald D’s record “Don’s Groove” was written by Hollywood and produced by Flash.
“To Who It May Concern” was a 1986 attempt at a comeback.
He faded from the scene by the mid-80’s, but resurfaced in the 90’s and even recorded a studio album for Ol’ Skool Flava.
Also made a recent comeback with Tha Veteranz which reunited him with Starski and Butchie B.
Check Out “Shock Shock the House”
additional info by Ed Roberts and MarkSkillz and DJ Bummer
January 28, 2011
I feel this site as well as HipHop, has insulted a True Pioneer of HipHop by not including him in your rasta of Hiphop Dj’s/Mc’s and that Man is Bfats our Harlem Hero that was truely and openly a part of the start of HipHop. when will HipHop respect that mans contributions to HipHop?
January 28, 2011
No disrespect to B Fats on this site. In fact, we have a great interview with him conducted by Troy back in 2008. Check it out here: http://www.oldschoolhiphop.com/interviews/bfats.htm
December 22, 2011
wats gd star. southstate 2003. wat happen to the dreads.dam nig been looking for u i losst my infor when i got home. doing the promoting thing again link up….
July 10, 2013
Im a big fan of dj Hollywood, he’s one of the reasons why I became a New York Dj.
With the help of Lovebug Starski, my greatness would have never been knew. So much love goes out to all those in hip hop, from the old to the new. forever love…
Q
July 15, 2014
Thank you for recording history. As someone who was around in the early days of Hip Hop, I remember Hollywood and many more. Back then, your “cred” was only as good as your skills. Your Skills traveled by word of mouth, which is why DJ’s like Hollywood, Devine, Infinity Machine, Disco Twins, Sound Mechanics, Flowers, Inner City Disco, and the names go on and on like Spectrum aka Public Enemy. Those will and forever be the glory days of Hip Hop. Wasn’t commercial and we controlled it and made it what it was. Today, we have no control, which is why – as Nas said – Hip Hop is Dead.