Kool DJ Red Alert is recognized as one of the founding fathers of Hip-Hop music and culture. Born in Antigua, West Indies, he grew up in Harlem, New York and later graduated from DeWitt Clinton High School in The Bronx.
Red Alert was on of the first deejays to perform with the architects of hip-hop Universal Zulu Nation. He rose to fame on WRKS 98.7 Kiss FM in New York City. Red Alert has been noted for breaking artists such as A Tribe Called Quest, Queen Latifah, Black Sheep and more. His legend grew immensely while playing a vital role in The Bridge Wars beginning in 1986. He was the first deejay to break the record “South Bronx” by Boogie Down Productions on his KISS-FM weekend radio show and club gigs in support of the Bronx-based hip-hop group versus Queens’ MC Shan, Marley Marl and the Juice Crew. Additionally, he was the first mixshow disc jockey to introduce dancehall to mainstream radio. Red Alert holds the all-time record for the most guest appearances among all hip-hop artists and personalities in the history of music videos.
He has been named one of the 50 most influential people in music by Rolling Stone magazine. Additionally, he is the only hip-hop deejay honored with a display in the Radio Section of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio. He has been appointed by the United Nations as an honorary Ambassador to Music. In June 2003, he was recognized with a location on the Bronx Walk of Fame, a series of street signs recognizing people of note from the borough.
