Falu'Jae Johnson, dj, South Carolina, song, father

by Ahsan Washington

January 21, 2026

National DJ Day: A Shout-Out To The Talent Behind the Turntables

Black DJs helped craft music culture.

Black disc jockeys have crafted music culture through their ear for sound, crowd control, and the creation of atmosphere, long before automated playlists and streaming platforms entered the ecosystem. The pioneers, who started in Bronx recreation centers, Chicago warehouses and basements, turned turntables into musical instruments while becoming cultural brokers.

Black DJs used turntables to create innovative tools which established community bonds and economic power across regions—and generations.

The nation paid homage to the innovators—who established DJ’ing as a foundation of hip-hop by reimagining jazz, R&B, reggae, and soul—on January 20, National DJ Day.

Here are 13 DJs who paved the path to what we hear today.

DJ Kool Herc

During the 1970s, DJ Kool Herc revolutionized Bronx block parties by extending break sections from funk and soul records. This wizardry gave dancers extra space to dance and emcees more time to interact with the crowd. A 1973 party hosted by Herc is recognized as the event that transformed DJing from basic music playback into an artistic act—through his focus on rhythm and community, Herc established the foundation for hip-hop’s four essential elements, which initiated a cultural movement that transformed global culture.

Grandmaster Flash

When hip-hop expanded beyond block parties, Grandmaster Flash introduced scientific precision to the turntable. During the late 1970s, he emerged from the Bronx to develop cutting, backspinning, and quick-mixing techniques that transformed DJing into a disciplined craft. Through his innovations, Flash transformed live performance techniques and revolutionized record production to establish DJs as the key architects of hip-hop’s sound.

Afrika Bambaataa

Afrika Bambaataa chose to focus on structure instead of sound. In the mid-1970s, in the Bronx, he led the Universal Zulu Nation, which united DJs, dancers, and artists to create hip-hop as a worldwide cultural movement. Through his musical fusion of funk and electronic music with Afrocentric elements, he extended hip-hop’s influence and DJ culture well beyond New York.

Kool DJ Red Alert

Starting in the late 1970s, Kool DJ Red Alert introduced hip-hop to commercial radio stations, including 98.7 Kiss FM and WBLS, which amplified hip-hop artists and cemented DJ culture outside club and party settings. Through his mixtapes and radio shows, Red Alert connected the underground hip-hop scene with the music industry, widening hip-hop’s audience.

DJ Kid Capri

During the late 1980s, the Bronx’s DJ Kid Capri gained fame for his exceptional skill in managing large crowds at clubs, on national television, and at tour events. Through his appearances on Def Comedy Jam and major award shows, Capri demonstrated that DJs could command the audience’s attention, helping advance DJ culture from the booth to center stage.

Jam Master Jay

During the 1980s, Jam Master Jay was a founding member of Run-D.M.C. and helped hip-hop music enter mainstream culture by establishing the DJ as a fundamental element of the group’s musical identity and visual presentation. The group achieved crossover success through Jay’s aggressive scratching and rhythmic control. The Queens native ensured that the art of DJing would continue through future generations by co-founding the Scratch DJ Academy after his performance career.

DJ Clark Kent

The influence of DJ Clark Kent is usually experienced rather than observed. Starting his career in Brooklyn during the late 1980s, Kent transitioned smoothly between DJ booths and recording studios while making musical contributions and linking artists with executives. Through his work, he connected DJ culture with the growth of the hip-hop business to show that DJs could influence the industry through sound and strategy.

Frankie Knuckles

While hip-hop developed in New York, Frankie Knuckles created a different musical movement in Chicago. At the Warehouse, Knuckles created house music by blending disco, soul, and electronic sounds in his extended emotional mixes. His method transformed club culture and set a global standard for DJs, which continues to shape dance floors today.

DJ Screw

Through his work in Houston, DJ Screw transformed Southern DJ culture by slowing down record speeds and emphasizing deep bass, which led to the development of the “chopped and screwed” musical style. During the 1990s, Screw distributed his mixtapes through underground channels. That developed into a regional movement that eventually impacted artists nationwide. The South established its position as a hip-hop cultural innovator through Screw’s work.

DJ Jubilee

DJ Jubilee emerged as one of the most recognizable voices and DJs of New Orleans bounce music. Jubilee developed his fast-paced call-and-response style through his work at block parties and local radio, which reflected the communal nature of Southern DJ culture. Through his work, he preserved bounce as a regional sound and introduced it to broader audiences.

DJ Toomp

From Atlanta, DJ Toomp began his career in Southern mixtape and DJ circuits before rising to become a major producer during the city’s hip-hop explosion. Through his DJ experience, Toomp developed his signature minimalist bass-driven production style, which he demonstrated in his work with T.I. and Kanye West. Toomp helped turn regional hip-hop into national powerhouses during the 2000s.

DJ Quik

During the late 1980s, Quik developed his funk-driven musical style and exacting production skills, laying the musical foundation for West Coast hip-hop as it gained commercial success. Quik’s dual mastery of live DJ performance and studio production is a model that numerous West Coast musicians adopted afterward.

Dr. Dre

Dr. Dre started his career as a Los Angeles club DJ specializing in electro-funk and radio culture before becoming one of hip-hop’s most influential producers and executives. The World Class Wreckin’ Cru gave Dre his first experience in West Coast DJing while he developed his futuristic sound. Dre transformed DJ culture into a funk production-driven force through his work with N.W.A., which cemented the West Coast hip-hop sound and created future hip-hop legends.

Spinderella

Through her role as the turntable backbone for Salt-N-Pepa, Deidra “Spinderella” Roper established hip-hop historical significance while making strides against male dominance in DJing. She joined the group during her teenage years to help create “Push It” and “Whatta Man.” In 2025, she became the first woman DJ to enter the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame