DJ Kool Herc

The turntable on which hip-hop was invented. Used during DJ Kool Herc's early career, as recounted in this January 31, 2018 Red Bull Music Academy interview.

Every time I would play out somewhere and come back from one of my parties, I would come back with a piece of the guy’s equipment that I’d bought.

What equipment?

I’m rolling with the big Mac [amp]. That cost like, say $1,600. A 2300 Mac, the biggest there is, the top of the line. The guy had top-of-the-line stuff. He had GLI, and the new company came out, he had the disco fours, and he had not one McIntosh 2300, he had two of them. And he had two [Altec] “Voice of the Theatres” [speaker system].

Who’s this guy you’re buying it all off?

He used to call himself the Amazing Bert. This system sounded like a band. People used to come just to hear the sound – they didn’t give a fuck what he was playing. What was coming through, it was crisp, you was hearing it. You could be on the Cross Bronx and be hearing this shit. But see, he was at Fordham University, he was a student from the Bahamas, so he had grant money. I didn’t have no grant money. So, he was getting grant money to buy all this new shit. I bought two of the fours, two of the other Voice of the Theatres, and I had one Mac. The Thorens was still top of the line, but I didn’t like the Thorens turntable.

The Technics wasn’t out yet?

My model, the 1100A just came in, to show Thorens that we on the block too. So between Technics and Thorens, they was fighting for the money market. So, I went Technics. I went 1100A. But that turntable, people couldn’t afford it. Too expensive. So they pulled it off and put something more durable and inexpensive with the 1200 shit. I don’t fuck with the 1200s. I wouldn’t. I still got mine, and I wish they would bring them back.

What’s the difference?

They got a higher pitch. The pitch from the table is not slant, it’s high. So, for me, spinning back is easier, and weight.

Used during DJ Kool Herc's early career, as recounted in this January 31, 2018 Red Bull Music Academy interview.

Every time I would play out somewhere and come back from one of my parties, I would come back with a piece of the guy’s equipment that I’d bought.

What equipment?

I’m rolling with the big Mac [amp]. That cost like, say $1,600. A 2300 Mac, the biggest there is, the top of the line. The guy had top-of-the-line stuff. He had GLI, and the new company came out, he had the disco fours, and he had not one McIntosh 2300, he had two of them. And he had two [Altec] “Voice of the Theatres” [speaker system].

Who’s this guy you’re buying it all off?

He used to call himself the Amazing Bert. This system sounded like a band. People used to come just to hear the sound – they didn’t give a fuck what he was playing. What was coming through, it was crisp, you was hearing it. You could be on the Cross Bronx and be hearing this shit. But see, he was at Fordham University, he was a student from the Bahamas, so he had grant money. I didn’t have no grant money. So, he was getting grant money to buy all this new shit. I bought two of the fours, two of the other Voice of the Theatres, and I had one Mac.

DJ Kool Herc's soundsystem, as confirmed by a sale reported by Mixmag, includes a GLI 3880 mixer among other equipment. This setup underscores the gear's historical significance in the context of hip hop's early development.

DJ Kool Herc is confirmed to have used a GLI 1000 equalizer as part of his soundsystem setup, which also included 2 Technics SL-1100a turntables, a GLI 3880 mixer, a Mcintosh Mc-2300 stereo power amplifier, 2 speaker cabinets with a 6-inch speaker array, 2 subwoofer cabinets, and a folding table. This information is verified by Mixmag, which reported on the auction of an original DJ Kool Herc-owned soundsystem, selling for more than $200k.

Sold on August 18, 2022 as part of Lot 13 of the “DJ Kool Herc & the Birth of Hip Hop” Christie’s auction.

LIGHTING EQUIPMENT AND SMOKE MACHINE FROM 1520 SEDGWICK AVENUE WITH STORAGE TRUNK

VARIOUS, EARLY 1970S

Sold on August 18, 2022 as part of Lot 13 of the “DJ Kool Herc & the Birth of Hip Hop” Christie’s auction.

LIGHTING EQUIPMENT AND SMOKE MACHINE FROM 1520 SEDGWICK AVENUE WITH STORAGE TRUNK

VARIOUS, EARLY 1970S

Sold on August 18, 2022 as part of Lot 13 of the “DJ Kool Herc & the Birth of Hip Hop” Christie’s auction.

LIGHTING EQUIPMENT AND SMOKE MACHINE FROM 1520 SEDGWICK AVENUE WITH STORAGE TRUNK

VARIOUS, EARLY 1970S