Hip-hop pioneer, Jay-Z producer was 58

DJ Clark Kent, a hip-hop pioneer who produced hits for Jay-Z, Notorious BIG and Mariah Carey, has died aged 58.

The musician, who has become a legendary figurehead of hip-hop over the past few decades, died after a three-year battle with colon cancer. Over the course of his career, he became a trendsetter and curator, filling gaps throughout hip-hop culture. As a musician, he produced classic records including Jay-Z's “Brooklyn's Finest,” a collaboration that came about after he first introduced the rapper to the Notorious BIG, as well as Mariah Carey's “Loverboy (Remix)” and Junior MAFIA's ” Player’s Anthem.” Additionally, he was known for his passion for sneakers and his extensive shoe collection, collaborating with brands such as Adidas and Nike.

In a statement posted on his social media profiles, his family said he battled colon cancer for years and died peacefully. “It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of the beloved Rodolfo A. Franklin, known to the world as DJ Clark Kent,” the statement said. “Clark passed away Thursday evening surrounded by his devoted wife Kesha, daughter Kabriah and son Antonio.”

“Clark calmly and bravely battled colon cancer for three years while continuing to share his gifts with the world. The family is grateful for everyone’s love, support and prayers during this time and requests privacy as they process this immense loss.”

Born Rodolfo Franklin, Kent began his career in the industry in the late 1980s as a DJ for Brooklyn rapper Dana Dane and as a DJ on New York radio. After scoring his first major hit in 1989 with a remix of R&B group Troop's “Spread Your Wings,” he landed his first major chart placement on Junior MAFIA's 1995 album Conspiracy, where he recorded “I Need You Tonight” and ” Player's Anthem” produced the very first tracks with Lil' Kim.

In 1996, he played a key role in Jay-Z's debut album Reasonable Doubt and produced the songs “Brooklyn's Finest”, “Coming of Age” and “Cashmere Thoughts”. Over the years, his resume grew to include Notorious BIG's “Sky's the Limit” and Carey's “Loverboy (Remix)” in 2001, with additional credits for artists such as Queen Latifah, Kanye West, Redman and more.

Outside of music, Kent was an adored shoe lover. Kent designed his first sneaker for Nike in 2009, the “112 Pack”. He is said to have more than 3,500 pairs of shoes in his collection and has subsequently worked with brands such as Adidas and New Balance.

In a statement shared with diversityNike commented: “We are deeply saddened by the passing of our dear friend and true cultural icon, DJ Clark Kent. At Nike, we were honored to work with Clark on projects that honored not only his deep love of sneakers, but also his unwavering commitment to pushing creative boundaries and advancing culture. His influence on the world of sneakers is immeasurable and spans the globe and generations. Clark's legacy will forever inspire future talent and leave a lasting mark on our industry. Our thoughts are with Clark's family, friends and everyone touched by his extraordinary talent, passion and kindness. We will miss his presence very much.”

Clark is the subject of an upcoming documentary directed by media personality Angie Martinez, who recently spoke about his legacy in an interview with Modern Luxury. “His DNA is scattered throughout the culture in ways that deserve to be explored, not just to tell his story, but to learn and ensure that we all act in ways that reflect the culture so honorably preserved,” she said.