Hip hop celebrates its 50th anniversary today with a series of shows in New York City, where the genre was born. Biggest of those is Hip Hop 50 Live at Yankee Stadium in The Bronx, which will feature heavy-hitters like Run DMC, Snoop Dogg, and Jamaican DJ Kool Herc, widely hailed as the father of hip hop.

Born Clive Campbell in Trench Town and raised in Vineyard Town, he migrated to the United States in 1968. DJ Kool Herc took the sound system skills he learned in Jamaica to the Bronx, where his family settled.

It was at his younger sister Cindy’s back-to-school party on August 11, 1973 that the teenager created the Merry-Go-Round, where he would extend the drum interlude of funk songs for fans to keep dancing. This novel style caught on like wildfire throughout New York City’s boroughs and ultimately made him a legend.

These are great times for the 68-year-old artiste who was on Independence Day, August 6, granted the national honour of the Order of Distinction from the Jamaican Government.

The following month, DJ Kool Herc will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and recognised as a Living Landmark by the New York Landmarks Conservancy.

Yesterday, he told the Jamaica Observer that he is overwhelmed to see his pioneer role being acknowledged.

“I can’t complain, man. I appreciate it a whole lot, I really appreciate the love,” he said.

Cindy Campbell, DJ Kool Herc’s manager, is also considered a hip hop pioneer. It was at her party at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue in The Bronx that music history was created.

Today, she noted, is “a big deal” for her brother.

“This is Yankee Stadium, 50 years. This is a life for many people. This is what we wanted, a big celebration for everybody to participate…Jamaica, Europe, Brazil, Africa, China, Japan, America. All different types of races. How much bigger can you get than that?” she asked.

The Yankee Stadium show is one of many events in August marking hip hop’s golden anniversary. Trailblazers including the Sugarhill Gang, LL Cool J, Chuck D, and Funkmaster Flex will participate in these shows which takes place mainly in The Bronx.

DJ Kool Herc has seen the music he helped put on the map move from the Big Apple’s projects in the 1970s to platinum status with Run DMC during the 1980s. In the 1990s, hip hop artistes began outselling their rock counterparts and is today a multi-billion-dollar industry.

Despite all his success, DJ Kool Herc has never forgotten his roots.

“I never left my national heritage, it’s always been with me. What can I say, man, I’m just blessed,” he said.