by SCOTT C

When you look at the massive global reach of hip hop culture, and the power and influence it's had in shaping the world that we live in right now, it's hard to imagine the humble beginnings of this now multibillion-dollar industry coming from the mind of one single person.

Regardless of how big it's become, hip hop got its start when a young Clive Campbell emigrated to the Bronx from Jamaica in 1967. Campbell used to spend a lot of time in the weight room in high school, and soon people began calling him Hercules, a nickname that would stay with him his entire life. DJ Kool Herc became a New York legend in the late '70s and early '80s, rocking genre-jumping house parties, outdoor soundsystem blockos, and clubs like Disco Fever, Hilltop and Twilight Zone. He pioneered extending breakbeats on a two-turntable setup, and paved the way for DJing and scratching as we know them now.

With the aid of MC Coke La Rock, he helped make the MC, or Master of Ceremonies, a permanent fixture at any party, and believe it or not, actually coined the term hip hop. Now, even though he never made a record, Herc should hold the same sort of place in hip hop history that Elvis has in rock 'n' roll, but this is not the case. Most people would look at you funny if you dropped his name in conversation, and it seems that the business of hip hop hasn't yet taken time to properly acknowledge his contributions. As part of the Under Pressure Graffiti Convention's 10th-anniversary celebrations (August 10 to 14), Montreal will host the Father of Hip Hop's first ever Canadian appearance. The Mirror spoke to DJ Kool Herc over the phone from his home in New York.

Mirror: I want to talk about the fact that you haven't been given due respect for your contribution to hip hop culture.

Kool Herc: I've got no qualms with that, man. I'm still doing what I love to do, and people are loving it. People are introducing me to their grandchildren, their great grandchildren, letting them know what I did. As far as people in the industry, in the business - I don't know, man. There's a lot of people in this business who don't even care where it came from, and I don't know if it's their upbringing or if they just have bad manners.

M: So, no hard feelings on your end of things?

KH: Oh, no. I'm comfortable. They can't take my shit away. I started this, and when the dust clears and the record stops, I'm the George Washington of this shit. People don't remember who the 47th president was. They know who the president is now, and they know who came first, and that's why I'm the George Washington of this game, and the Rodney Dangerfield of hip hop - no respect (laughs). You'd think somebody out there had a conscience, and said to themselves, "I'm living so bountiful off of this thing called hip hop - who started this?" It wasn't no Bambaataa or Flash. It was me. I ain't trying to get no money or pussy off of this, man. I come from people's choice.

M: There must have been times over the years that you just got frustrated with the whole thing and threw your hands up. The whole culture exploded and I can't believe that you got left out of the equation.

KH: I wasn't raised to look at other people's money, belongings and things and want them, man. It looks good on the outside but you don't know what's inside. Brother, I'm not a mad rapper or a mad wrestler, running around making noise about how I was shortchanged. My record is hip hop. Beat that. I didn't have to make a record, because we named it hip hop and it's still here.

Hardy yardie

M: I noticed that you've never been to Canada before, but has your notoriety allowed you to travel to different corners of the world?

KH: That's the best part, my man. Hip hop has taken me to places that I'd never thought I'd be. The first trip I ever took out of the USA was to England. Then Italy, France, Germany, Ireland, Australia, and I'm making plans for Japan. Even Jamaica is planning to have a homecoming for me (laughs). They're repping me, but they don't wanna come find me. Sean Paul is running my name out his mouth in interviews, and Beenie Man too, but where da man dey?

M: When was the last time you went to Jamaica?

KH: I haven't been to Jamaica in 20 years, man.

M: Serious?

KH: Last time I was there was when my father passed, but that was a different kind of trip. I left Jamaica for a better life, my brother, and I could have been in England or Canada, but I ended up in the USA.

M: How old were you when you arrived in the States?

KH: I was very young, man, probably about 11 or 12 years old. I didn't come here as a hardcore Jamaican, 19, 20 years old.

M: You came as a yout' dem -

KH: Yes. This was when it was not fashionable to be a Jamaican in New York City. They was throwing Jamaicans in garbage cans, motherfuckers know that. Now, it's cool to be Jamaican, so people are saying where they from now.

M: You still working out?

KH: I never did stop working out, man. People are gonna see me the way I am now in a new video Jin has out. I'm in there, and Jin is wearing a T-shirt that says, "Where's Kool Herc's Royalty Check At?"

Not down with Brown

M: Being the father of all of this, you must have been approached for sponsorship, or to do endorsements for companies, products and the like, right?

KH: Never did. Never been approached, and those who were able to get those deals never pointed the finger my way either.

M: I can't believe that, man.

KH: You know what? This could be the making of a new reality show. You get the camera, and me and you will go and knock on a few well-known hip hop motherfuckers' doors, and we'll see how people react (laughs). Instead of doing Bobby Brown and the Osbournes, they should document a few days in the life of the guy who started all of this. Let's roll!

M: If I had a camera, and we had a reality show, who would we go and visit first?

KH: You start from the top. Let's visit the biggest name in hip hop today, let the camera roll, and let people hear what I have to say about him and what he has to say about me. What has a guy with six cars in the driveway given back? You're in Forbes magazine, let's stop the bullshit. I think people would enjoy that show. You should shop that deal, man! (laughs) It'd be better coming from Canada then from here.

M: I'm on it, man. I'm on it.

KH: Man! Even Bobby Brown has a show now! C'mon, gimme a break!

M: I know. Nobody wants to see that, especially me.

KH: That nigga is an example of ignorance in the highest degree. Why are we messin' with him? He's a train-wreck waiting to happen, and they're gonna catch that. That's mockery of our race, man.

M: I saw him putting Preparation H on his face for wrinkles on the show, and I had to turn it off. It's like the minstrel show.

KH: Exactly. All the successful black people out there, and they have to do a show about Bobby Brown. I started a culture, worldwide, hands down, still going strong. Ain't no sign of lettin' up, and crossing all cultural barriers, and there's no reality on that? Houston, we have a problem.

With DJs P-Love, Kops Crew, We Funk, Hardsteppers, Serious, Bliss, Jordan Dare, Shortfuse, Devious, Mana, Kobal and more, the Hesh Vs. Fresh skate competition, B-boy/B-girl competition and more at the Under Pressure Graffiti Convention behind Foufunes Électriques on Sunday, Aug. 14, 11 a.m.-10 p.m., all ages, free

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