DJ Clark Kent dies aged 57 | News

The music world mourns the loss DJ Clark Kentwho died of colon cancer on Thursday (October 24) at the age of 57.

“It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of the beloved Rodolfo A. Franklin, known to the world as DJ Clark Kent. Clark passed away Thursday evening surrounded by his devoted wife Kesha, daughter Kabriah and son Antonio. Clark calmly and bravely fought colon cancer for three years while sharing 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,” a post on his official Instagram account read.

Born Rodolfo Franklin, his DJ and producer spanned more than three decades. Kent is from Brooklyn, New York. His musical abilities and talent for discovering artists have made him a cornerstone of hip hop culture. Kent is known for his unmatched ability to fuse genres and revolutionize new music. He has shaped the careers of some of the biggest names in the industry while cementing his legacy as a tastemaker and innovator.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, DJ Clark Kent rose to prominence as a producer, working with influential artists such as The Notorious BIG, Jay-Z and Mariah Carey. He played a pivotal role in Jay-Z's early career, producing “Brooklyn's Finest” and “Cashmere Thoughts” on the rapper's debut album. Reasonable doubt.

Kent's production catalog offers an impressive range, from dark underground tracks to mainstream hits. His notable work includes co-producing Junior MAFIA's “Player's Anthem” and collaborating on records by Rakim, Canibus and 50 Cent. Outside of production, he was known for electrifying DJ sets that blended hip-hop, soul, R&B and house music.

Last year, ahead of the 2023 Hip Hop Awards, DJ Clark Kent spoke to BET about his career and being a DJ and producer.

“Our job is to do our best to make sure what’s happening and what people are hearing is good and represents our culture appropriately,” said DJ Clark Kent. “A DJ's job is to curate, so he has to sift through what's good, what's bad, what's not so good, what's not bad, and figure out how it all works.” But if we're the backbone of the culture, “We really have to work a lot harder to make sure our culture doesn’t disappear because of so many things that are not good.”