The father of the breakbeat
Though considered the father of hip-hop, DJ Kool Herc is often overlooked today.
The Jamaican-born artist was responsible for laying much of the music’s foundation. By spinning two copies of the same record on separate turntables, he invented the breakbeat — an extended rhythmic section from a hit song to which people can dance longer, a DJ can scratch or a hip-hopper can rap. He also came up with the term “B-boy” for break dancer.