DJ Kool

This article is about the Washington, DC-born rapper. For the Jamaican-born musician, see Kool DJ Herc.

DJ Kool
Birth name	John W. Bowman, Jr.
Born	1959 (age 51–52)
Genres	Hip hop, go-go, R&B, funk rap
Occupations	DJ, rapper, singer
Instruments	Vocalist
Years active	1982–present
Labels	CLR Records (1984-1997) American Recordings/Warner Bros. Records (1992-1998)
Associated acts	Rare Essence, Will Smith, Mýa

John W. Bowman, Jr., better known by his stage name DJ Kool is a rapper who, in the late 1990s, produced several popular rap singles. Born in 1959 in Washington, D.C., his influence from his years of working the go-go and rap circuits became apparent in his music. During the early- to mid-1980s, Kool worked as a warm-up DJ for Rare Essence, until he was picked up by CLR Records.

In 1996, he recorded his most successful track, "Let Me Clear My Throat," which was released on American Recordings. The track peaked at #8 in the UK Singles Chart in March 1997.^[1] The song prominently featured a sample of "The 900 Number" by DJ Mark the 45 King, (that song featured a sample from Marva Whitney's "Unwind Yourself",^[2] repeated over a breakbeat for six minutes). The song also began by sampling "Hollywood Swinging" by Kool and the Gang. The song is a recognizable dance floor-filler, and the track remains popular to this day^[update]. DJ Kool was featured on Mýa's 2006 single "Ayo!" from her 2008 album Liberation. He was also featured on two tracks on Will Smith's 2005 album Lost and Found.

On November 21, 2009, he performed at halftime of a Denver Nuggets basketball game.

Discography

Albums

• The Music Ain't Loud Enuff (1990)
• 20 Minute Workout (1992)
• Let Me Clear My Throat (1996)

Singles

• "Let Me Clear My Throat" (1996)

Guest Appearances

• "Be A Man" by "Macho Man" Randy Savage (2003)
• "Let's Get Dirty (I Can't Get in da Club)" by Redman (2001)

References

1. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 159. ISBN 1-904994-10-5. 
2. ^ Marva Whitney – Unwind Yourself (Sampled By DJ Kool – Let Me Clear My Throat)

External links

• Official Website
• Yahoo Biography
• Musicmatch guide
• Fansite
• DJ Kool Video interview with Money Train & Thenkman
• DJ Kool Video interview with DJ Tutor

Persondata
Name	Kool, DJ
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1999
Place of birth	Washington, D.C., United States
Date of death
Place of death