DJ Clark Kent
{{Short description|American DJ and record producer (1966–2024)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name = DJ Clark Kent
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| birth_name = Rodolfo Antonio Franklin II
| birth_date = {{birth date|1966|09|28}}
| birth_place = New York City, U.S.
| alias =
| death_date = {{death date and age|2024|10|24|1966|09|28}}
| death_place = Green Brook Township, New Jersey, U.S.
| spouse = {{marriage|Kesha Vernon|2000}}
| children = 1
| occupation = {{hlist|DJ|record producer}}
| years_active = 1987–2024
| relatives = Foxy Brown (cousin)
| website =
| module = {{Infobox musical artist
| embed = yes
| genre = {{hlist|Hip hop|hardcore hip hop
}}
| label =
}}
}}
Rodolfo Antonio Franklin II (September 28, 1966 – October 24, 2024), known professionally as DJ Clark Kent, was an American hip hop DJ and record producer. His crew of DJs was called "The Supermen", and his DJ moniker was derived from the name of Superman's alter ego.
Early life and education
Franklin was born in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, New York, on September 28, 1966, but would often say he was born in Panama as a way to pay tribute to his family's ancestry.{{cite news|url = https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/27/obituaries/dj-clark-kent-dead.html|title = DJ Clark Kent, Who Introduced Jay-Z to Notorious B.I.G., Dies at 58|last = Traub|first = Alex|date = October 27, 2024|accessdate = October 27, 2024|newspaper = The New York Times|url-access = limited}} Franklin was raised by his mother and grandmother. He attended Brooklyn Technical High School and the Hoosac School. He also attended Emerson College but did not receive a degree. Franklin's use of the name "Clark Kent" derived from the glasses he began wearing when he was a child.
Music career
In the late 1980s, Clark Kent was rapper Dana Dane's DJ.{{cite web|author=Daniel Isenberg|url=https://www.complex.com/music/2011/11/dj-clark-kent-tells-all-the-stories-behind-his-classic-records-part-1/junior-mafia-players-anthem-1995|title=DJ Clark Kent Tells All: The Stories Behind His Classic Records (Part 1)|publisher=Complex|date=November 11, 2011|accessdate=December 1, 2019}} Around this time, Kent would DJ at clubs such as one just around the block from Downtown Records on West 26th Street in Manhattan which was a short-lived hip-hop hotbed with other DJs also performing there, such as Funkmaster Flex and Kid Capri.{{cite web|author=Stretch Armstrong|url=https://medium.com/cuepoint/cassette-culture-with-stretch-armstrong-a82307027217|title=Cassette Culture with Stretch Armstrong|publisher=Medium|date=November 24, 2014|accessdate=December 1, 2019}} In 1989, he produced the remix for Troop's hit song "Spread My Wings."
Around the early 1990s, DJ Clark Kent took over the job of MC for the then-titled New Music Seminar, a battle between the best DJs in hip hop.{{cite web|url=https://daily.redbullmusicacademy.com/2015/07/new-music-seminar-oral-history/|title=The New Music Seminar Battle For World Supremacy: An Oral History|website=Red Bull Music Academy|date=July 24, 2015}} Renaming it "Clark Kent's Superman Battle for World Supremacy", he would go on to host the event for a number of years. One of the most famous battles in this arena was the legendary match between DJ Noize and DJ 8-Ball, with a victory for DJ Noize.{{cite web|url=https://mixmag.net/feature/the-10-best-dj-scratch-battles-of-all-time/|title=THE 10 BEST DJ SCRATCH BATTLES OF ALL TIME|website=mixmag|date=July 24, 2020}}
Clark Kent later scored his first street hit with the Junior M.A.F.I.A. song "Player's Anthem" which featured The Notorious B.I.G. and was the first record that Lil' Kim appeared on. The biggest hit he produced was "Loverboy" by Mariah Carey, which peaked at #2 in the US on Billboard's Hot 100 chart. In addition to his work with Mariah, Lil' Kim, and The Notorious B.I.G.,{{Cite web|url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.19010/title.dj-clark-kent-names-his-favorite-song-by-the-notorious-b-i-g#|title=DJ Clark Kent Names His Favorite Song By The Notorious B.I.G.
|website=hiphopdx.com|date=March 14, 2012
|access-date=June 11, 2018}} Clark also produced tracks for artists such as Lil' Vicious, Mona Lisa, 50 Cent, Canibus, Mad Skillz, Estelle, Slick Rick and Rakim, as well as groups like The Future Sound and Original Flavor, which were signed to East West Records and Atlantic Records respectively. Both groups were signed by Clark, who was a director of A&R at Atlantic at the time.{{Cite web|url=https://timeisillmatic.me/2015/12/18/the-future-sound-the-whole-shabang-volume-1-april-7-1992/|title=The Future Sound – The Whole Shabang Volume 1 (April 7, 1992)|date=December 18, 2015 }}
Damon Dash, one time manager of The Future Sound and Original Flavor, has credited DJ Clark Kent with introducing him to Jay-Z.{{cite web|url=https://www.stopthebreaks.com/gems/dj-clark-kent-introduced-jay-z-damon-dash|title=Hip-Hop Gem: DJ Clark Kent Introduced Jay-Z To Damon Dash|website=Stop The Breaks}} Original Flavor featured the then little known rapper on their single "Can I Get Open" in 1993.{{cite web|url=https://ambrosiaforheads.com/2014/09/do-remember-original-flavor-jay-zs-can-i-get-open-video/|title=Do Remember: Original Flavor & Jay Z's Can I Get Open? (Video)|website=Ambrosia For Heads|date=September 11, 2014 }} This would lead to the 1994 start of Roc-A-Fella Records, and further collaborations between Clark and Jay-Z, who met when they were teenagers, as Clark would go on to produce three tracks on Jay-Z's 1996 critically acclaimed debut album, Reasonable Doubt.{{cite web|url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/329625-dj-clark-kent-recalls-convincing-jay-z-to-switch-from-hustling-to-rap-news|author=Mitch Findlay|title=DJ Clark Kent Recalls Convincing Jay-Z To Switch From Hustling To Rap|website=Hot New Hip Hop|date=March 9, 2021}} The tracks were: "Brooklyn's Finest", which features The Notorious B.I.G.,{{Cite web|url=https://genius.com/Jay-z-coming-of-age-lyrics|title =Brooklyn's Finest}}"Coming of Age", which features Memphis Bleek,{{Cite web|url=https://genius.com/Jay-z-coming-of-age-lyrics|title =Coming of Age}} and "Cashmere Thoughts", which contains a conversation between Clark and Jay-Z.{{Cite web|url=https://genius.com/Jay-z-cashmere-thoughts-lyrics|title =Cashmere Thoughts}} Clark stated that he introduced B.I.G. and Jay-Z at the studio session for their collaboration.{{Cite web|url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.17570/title.dj-clark-kent-recalls-introducing-jay-z-the-notorious-b-i-g-recording-brooklyns-finest|title=DJ CLARK KENT RECALLS INTRODUCING JAY-Z & THE NOTORIOUS B.I.G., RECORDING "BROOKLYN'S FINEST"|website=hiphopdx.com|date=November 11, 2011 |access-date=May 28, 2018}} During this time, Clark would also introduce his cousin Foxy Brown to Jay-Z, and the two would team up on the hit single "Ain't No Nigga".{{cite web|author=Roman Cooper|url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.25070/title.foxy-brown-was-shocked-to-hear-her-name-on-jay-zs-picasso-baby|title=Foxy Brown Was "Shocked" To Hear Her Name On Jay Z's "Picasso Baby"|publisher=HipHopDX|date=August 15, 2013|accessdate=December 1, 2019}} On 2003's The Black Album, billed as his "retirement" project, Jay-Z alludes to Clark's role in helping him break into the industry, on the album's last song (titled "My 1st Song"). He states: "Clark Kent, that was good lookin' out, nigga."{{Cite web|url=https://genius.com/Jay-z-my-1st-song-lyrics|title =My 1st Song}}
Clark discovered rapper Shyne, whom he accidentally overheard rhyming in a barbershop, in 1998. Noting the young MC's vocal similarity to The Notorious B.I.G., Clark steered him towards Bad Boy Records, and Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs signed him.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hiphopscriptures.com/shyne|title =Digital Biography of Belize's Shyne}}
Other ventures
Aside from his work in music, Clark was a sneaker enthusiast who once claimed to own 3,500 pairs of footwear.{{Cite web|author=Paul Dachs|url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.55293/title.dj-clark-kent-confesses-for-his-sneakerhead-sins|title=DJ CLARK KENT CONFESSES HIS SNEAKERHEAD SINS|website=hiphopdx.com|date=April 4, 2020 |access-date=April 4, 2020}} In 2010, Nike commissioned him to design and unveil a "Nike Five Boroughs AF1 Low" pack of special limited edition Nike Air Force 1 shoes.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kicksonfire.com/nike-air-force-1-low-x-dj-clark-kent-the-bronx-five-boroughs-pack/|title =Nike Air Force 1 Low x DJ Clark Kent – The Bronx – Five Boroughs Pack}} He also collaborated with other popular brands, such as Adidas and New Balance.{{Cite web|author=Barbara Schneider-Levy|url=https://footwearnews.com/fashion/celebrity-style/dj-clark-kent-sneakers-1202662812/|title=DJ Clark Kent Has 3,500 Pairs of Shoes & Hints at His Next Round of Sneaker Collaborations|date=August 15, 2018 }}
Personal life and death
In 1998, Franklin began dating Kesha Vernon, whom he married in 2000, and together they had a son. Franklin died from colon cancer at his home in Green Brook Township, New Jersey, on October 24, 2024, at the age of 58.{{cite news |last1=Phillips |first1=Zoe G. |title=DJ Clark Kent, Hip-Hop Record Producer, Dies at 58 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/music-news/dj-clark-kent-dead-hip-hop-record-producer-1236045811/ |access-date=October 26, 2024 |publisher=The Hollywood Reporter |date=October 25, 2024}}
Production credits
| class="wikitable"
|+ !Album !Artist !Year !Track |
| She's Playing Hard to Get (the Remixes)
|Hi-Five, Jay-Z |1992 |She's Playing Hard (Clark Kent Supermix) |
| Sex Is Law
| rowspan="2" |1993 |Da Wiggle {produced with Ski} |
| Nerissa
|Nerissa |In the Rain (Remix) |
| Destination Brooklyn
| rowspan="2" |1994 |Nika |
| Troddin'
|Never Been in Love B4; Woman Like You |
| Throw Your Hands Up 12"
|L.V. | rowspan="8" |1995 |Throw Your Hands Up (Remix) |
| It's All About You 12"
|Adina Howard, Busta Rhymes, Mr. Cheeks |It's All About You (Remix) |
| Hold It Down
|Dedicated |
| In My Lifetime 12"
|I Can't Get wid That |
| Conspiracy
|Realms of Junior M.A.F.I.A.; I Need You Tonight; Players' Anthem; Crazaay |
| Hooked on You 12"
|Silk |Hooked on You (Remix) |
| Feels Like the First Time 12"
|Funny How Time Flies (Lil' Kim Mix) |
| The Natural 12"
|The Natural (Remix) |
| From Where???
| rowspan="17" |1996 |Move Ya Body |
| Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood (soundtrack)
|Time to Shine |
| Live and Die for Hip Hop 12"
|Kris Kross, Da Brat |Live and Die for Hip Hop (Remix) |
| Things We Do for Love 12"
|Horace Brown, Jay-Z |Things We Do for Love (Remix) |
| One for the Money 12"
|Horace Brown, Foxy Brown |One for the Money (Remix) |
| The Associate (soundtrack)
|Queen Latifah, Shades, Free |Mr. Big Stuff |
| You're the One 12"
|SWV, Jay-Z |You're the One (Clark Kent Remix) |
| Get on the Bus (soundtrack)
|Tonite's the Nite |
| rowspan="3" |Reasonable Doubt
|Jay-Z, The Notorious B.I.G. |Brooklyn's Finest |
| Jay-Z, Memphis Bleek
|Coming of Age |
| Jay-Z
|Cashmere Thoughts |
| Feel Your Pain 12"
|Whitehead Bros. |Feel Your Pain (Clark Kent Remix) |
| 11-20-79 |
| Daily Basis 12"
|Da Rahnjaz |Street Life (Daily Basis Remix) |
| The New World Order
|Dreadful Day |
| Bootleg Versions
|Ready or Not (Clark Kent/Django version) |
| |Skindeep
|No More Games; Everybody |
| Life After Death
| rowspan="5" |1997 |
| Love, Peace & Nappiness 12"
|Get Up (Remix) |
| Nothin to Lose (soundtrack)
|Oran "Juice" Jones, Stu-Large, Camp Lo |Poppin' That Fly (Clark Kent Remix) |
| I Like 12"
|Shiro |I Like (Remix) |
| The 18th Letter
|Remember That; Guess Who's Back; Stay a While |
| Pushin' Weight 12"
| rowspan="2" |Ice Cube | rowspan="9" |1998 |Pushin' Weight (Clark Kent Remix) |
| Player's Club (soundtrack)
|We Be Clubbin' (Clark World Remix) |
| Woo (soundtrack) / Cold As Ice
|Money |
| Make It Reign
|Make It Reign; Massive Heat; Keep On |
| Touch It 12"
|Touch It (C.K. Remix) |
| Order in the Court
|No/Yes |
| Come and Get with Me 12"
|Come and Get with Me (Remix) |
| Can-I-Bus
|How We Roll; Channel Zero |
| Respect
|48 @ the Buzzer; ?; ?? |
| The Hit List
| rowspan="4" |1999 |A Dog's Master |
| The Art of Storytellin'
|Slick Rick |Kill Niggaz; I Own America Pt. 1; 2 Way Street; Why Why Why; Memories |
| Hempstead High
|A+ |Gotta Have It; Price of Fame {produced with B!nk} |
| Born Again
|Come On |
| Middle Finger U
|2000 |Middle Finger U.; Face Off 2000 |
| Urban Renewal
|Lil' Kim, Phil Collins | rowspan="3" |2001 |In the Air Tonite |
| City High
|15 Will Get You 20 |
| Glitter (soundtrack)
|Loverboy (Remix) |
| All About J
|Lil J | rowspan="2" |2002 |Come Out and Play {produced with Echo Levi} |
| Guess Who's Back
|Fuck You |
| Konexion
| rowspan="2" |2003 |Stick Em Up! |
| He's Keith Murray
|Cristina |
| The Streetsweeper, Vol. 2
|2004 |Hands on the Pump |
| Red Gone Wild: Thee Album
|2007 |Diz Iz Brick City |
| Teflon Don
|2010 |
| Harverd Dropout
|2018 |I Love It {produced with Kanye, Ronny J, CBMIX} |
References
{{Reflist}}
Sources
- {{cite web|title=Clark Kent, Credits|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/clark-kent-mn0000138010/credits|website=AllMusic|accessdate=April 8, 2018}}
External links
- [http://www.discogs.com/artist/Clark+Kent Discogs entry]
- [http://www.streetlevel.com/2010/07/30/nike-air-force-1-low-5-borough-pack-release-info/+Nike Five Boroughs Pack Air Force 1] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190127050954/http://www.streetlevel.com/2010/07/30/nike-air-force-1-low-5-borough-pack-release-info/+Nike |date=January 27, 2019 }}
- {{IMDb name|nm6239167}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Clark Kent, DJ}}
Category:20th-century African-American musicians
Category:21st-century African-American people
Category:American hip-hop musicians
Category:American hip-hop record producers
Category:American people of Panamanian descent
Category:Brooklyn Technical High School alumni
Category:Deaths from cancer in New Jersey