By Patrick Hedlund
DNAinfo News Editor
EAST VILLAGE — A host of hip-hop luminaries came out Tuesday night to help raise money for ailing rap legend Kool Herc, who was recently hospitalized and cannot afford to cover his medical bills.
Sutra Lounge on First Avenue — one of Herc's regular haunts where he occasionally still deejays — hosted the benefit party that drew such boldface names as producer Just Blaze, rapper Black Rob and deejay Tony Touch.
Sutra owner Ariel Palitz explained that the event was such a hit — raising about $1,000 for Herc, who friends said still needs surgery — that the club will continue to accept donations for him through the rest of the month.
"We'd like to just be able to help cover his expenses and maybe give him a little cushion for the winter," she said of Herc, who is credited with starting the hip-hop movement in the Bronx during the 1970s. "It's the least we can do."
Hip-hop blogs picked up on news of the rap pioneer's struggle with kidney stones and also established a P.O. box where fans can send donations.
Although credited with introducing turntable mixing into music and jumpstarting hip-hop, Kool Herc, whose real name is Clive Campbell, never attained the degree of commercial success as other old-school acts to come out of New York City.
"The fact is that Kool Herc can't necessarily pay all his medical expenses, when you can come out with one hit today and be set for life," Palitz said. "The compensation just wasn't there."
She added that Sutra's lineup of acts this month, including Funkmaster Flex and Mr. C, will help bring in bigger crowds that will hopefully donate to the cause.
"It's definitely a really tight community," Palitz said, "and we're so honored to be able to house the pioneers of hip-hop this way."
Interested doners can visit djkoolherc.com.
