DJ Kool Herc

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.

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