DJ OF THE WEEK 3.8.10: MARLEY MARL

Who remembers stayin’ up late nites, especially on the weekends, to record music off the radio onto cassettes? Who then use to drop these tapes into the boom box or the home stereo, prop their speakers on the windows, and pump it for the whole hood to hear? This was back in the early 80’s, when the old school was still the new school, cassettes were our social media, and the radio was our source for all things fresh! One of the pioneers in this movement was none other then Marley Marl, who via his now legendary show, “Mr. Magic Rap Attack” on WBLS, transmitted the culture we now know as Hip Hop to the farthest corners of the world, much farther than WBLS ever imagined they could with their simple radio antenna.

Marley Marl was more than just a radio personality playing the latest trends; he was an integral part of the culture serving as one of the first super producers while at the helm of his own record label Cold Chilling records. On the roster were some of Hip Hop’s founding fathers such as MC Shan, Roxanne Shanté, Big Daddy Kane, Biz Markie, Kool G Rap & DJ Polo, and much more. He was also one of the first to sample a James Brown beat, lay it down, and create Hip Hop masterpieces. He was even part of the first Hip Hop beef, remember the Bridge Wars? This battle with Bronx Hip Hop native and fellow founding father, KRS One resulted in The Bridge, which stands as one of the defining cuts in the history of Hip Hop!

Marley Marl’s contribution to the genre and the resulting culture is without question undeniable and profound, so get them cassettes out, I think we’re having a Rap Attack!!