DJ Hurricane of Beastie Boys Says Rock Hall Is Neglecting the DJ by jakecrates

(AllHipHop News) While the Beastie Boys will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year, their long-time DJ feels that the Rock Hall of Fame is overlooking his role in the group’s success.

DJ Hurricane says the Rock Hall is snubbing DJ’s and hype men like himself and Flavor Flav, by not giving them their due recognition.

The DJ wants to bring to light the importance of supporting artists and their role in the success of their respective groups.

Despite the importance of the DJ and the hype man in a rapper’s live show and in the creation of music, many hip-hop fans often overlook their critical contributions.

According to DJ Hurricane, similar instances include DJ’s like DJ Spinderella (of Salt n’ Pepa) and Eric B (of Eric B and Rakim) and hype man Flavor Flav (of Public Enemy).

“That’s how it was back then. When you look at Jam Master Jay and Run DMC- Jay wasn’t under contract on the first 2 albums,” DJ Hurricane explained to AllHipHop.com in a statement.

According to Hurricane, in 1986 when the Beastie Boys were just gaining notoriety, they lost their original DJ amidst the Rasing Hell Tour, that featured Run D.M.C., LL Cool J and Whoodini.

The Beastie Boys went to Russell Simmons for help in finding a DJ, who in turn asked the late Jam Master Jay, who recommended DJ Hurricane.

Despite the “white rapper” stigma that DJ Hurricane says the Beastie Boys carried, DJ Hurricane went on to complete the rest of the tour and eventually became their permanent DJ.

DJ Hurricane would go on to tour with The Beastie Boys for the next 13 years, until 1999 when they officially parted ways.

Hurricane asserts that he wasn’t just a DJ for the Beastie Boys, but a more integral member, who received songwriting credit for the hit single, “Sure Shot.”

In a 1999 interview with The Beastie Boys, Adam “Ad Rock” Horovitz acknowledged Hurricane’s role in creating the “Sure Shot” track.

“We woke him up maybe around two a.m. And from bed he came up with the chorus and did it over the phone,” Ad Rock said.

“Ten months out of the year- I was on the road,” recalled DJ Hurricane. “And when you pull up the archive- I’m there. All I want is recognition, not money. A trophy would be correct; like a team that wins a Super Bowl; everyone gets a ring.”