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(NewsNation) — Coke La Rock’s name may not be as familiar as other rappers, but he’s credited with being the first MC in hip-hop and a founder of modern rap.
Born in 1955 in The Bronx, La Rock was raised by a single mother and his grandparents, meeting a high school classmate who would help him create the genre.
La Rock’s friendship with DJ Kool Herc began at the age of 15 and the duo began throwing legendary parties. They advertised with handwritten index cards passed around as flyers and relied on word of mouth to sell tickets.
At a “Back to School Jam” in 1973, held for Herc’s sister Cindy, La Rock began shouting his friend’s names while Herc played sets as a DJ. Some believe that party marked the first time an MC rapped while a DJ played.
The rapper’s style has been compared to a Jamaican tradition of toasting, which includes talking or chanting over a rhythm or beat by a DJ.
La Rock relied on improv for his lyrics and didn’t record his material, but is still considered hip-hop’s first MC.
La Rock didn’t come up with his stage name until his fifth or sixth party, deciding on the moniker Coke La Rock after dreaming about dealing cocaine in Mexico.
Outside of music, he earned money selling marijuana and heroin in his neighborhood, making $1,200 to $1,700 off a single party. The rapper also got offered cash to shout out other dealers or their products while onstage.
La Rock became a prominent MC by 1975, playing at small clubs in the Bronx, and gaining fame along with Herc.
While many people went to the clubs to listen to music and have a good time, fights were also frequent and in 1977, Herc was stabbed by a member of another crew at a club. After that incident, La Rock decided to leave the rap scene in 1979.
While he never recorded his music, La Rock is credited with coming up with the phrases “you rock and you don’t stop” and “hotel, motel, you don’t tell, we don’t tell.”
Part of the latter phrase was used in Sugarhill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight,” without crediting La Rock, a song that is considered the first mainstream hip-hop song.
In 2008, the rapper recorded his first song, called “Hello – Merry Christmas Baby!” and was inducted into the Counterculture Hall of Fame.
In 2023, La Rock spoke out saying he deserved credit and royalties for his contributions. If he succeeds, it could help gain the rapper wider recognition for his legacy.
