Hip-Hop Pioneer Lovebug Starski Passed Away

One of Hip-Hop pioneers Lovebug Starski died last Thursday at 57 following a heart attack in Las Vegas.

Lovebug was part of the core group of DJ pioneers, including DJ Kool Herc, Afrika Bambaataa, Grandmaster Flash & Grand Wizard Theodore, who shaped genre’s parameters in the 70s before any record release. He was one of the first DJs who could rap while mixing. His chants and catchphrases included ‘make money money, make money money money’ and ‘hip, hop, the hip, the hip, hip the hopping, and you don’t stop’. This is one of the reasons Lovebug Starski is credited as the veteran who popularized the term Hip-Hop.

To pay respect to the pioneer Biggie Smalls gave shout out to Lovebug Starski in the opening verse to Juicy. Lovebug Starski may always be best known for his work as a New York City club DJ, and ambassador of Hip-Hop.

BlackoutHipHop extends condolences to Lovebug Starski’s family and friends.