Rodolfo A. Franklin, better known as DJ Clark Kent to the hip hop and sneaker world, has died at 58 after a three-year battle with colon cancer, which he fought “quietly and valiantly (…) while continuing to share his gifts with the world”, as his family announced in a statement last week.
With productions credits on timeless rap tracks, world-renowned DJ skills, the discovery of at least two rap icons, and his standing as a cornerstone of sneaker culture, his legacy is gigantic: the Brooklynite was a legend in two games. Minimum.
“Labels turned me down, couldn’t foresee,
Jay-Z – “Blueprint (Momma Loves Me)”
Clark sought me out”
Clark Kent first made a name for himself deejaying for rapper Dana Dane in the mid-1980s, before he played a pivotal role in launching the career of Jay-Z: Not only did he introduce Dame Dash to the rapper, who would go on to form Rocafella Records together, but also connected HOV to Biggie and Foxy Brown, Clark Kent’s niece.
While this alone might be enough to secure a spot in hip hop history, the renowned DJ further cemented his place as hip-hop elite by shaping the sound of 90s hip hop: His production work includes “Player’s Anthem” by Junior M.A.F.I.A., “Guess Who’s Back” by Rakim, “Sky’s the Limit” by Biggie, and three songs on “Reasonable Doubt” by Jay-Z, amongst many more.
‘God’s Favorite DJ’ wasn’t just a force behind the decks and the boards though – he was also a cornerstone of sneaker culture. His passion for sneakers was legendary, making him a key figure – with an amazing connection – in the community long before the term “sneakerhead” was even coined.
He simply loved sneakers, which probably was evident to anybody who ever witnessed one of Clark Kent’s many sneaker talks, whether it was hymns of praise for his favorite shoe of all time – the Nike Air Force 1 – or a passionate speech about why he didn’t feel the buzz of certain sneakers. He wasn’t about hype. He was for the culture, and as co-host of Complex’s sneaker talk show Quickstrike, among many other panel talks and such, he also helped to educate and inspire new generations of sneaker enthusiasts.
A living sneaker culture encyclopedia and passionate collector, he also left an indelible mark on sneaker culture through his sought-after collaborations, like his coveted ‘112 Pack’ with Nike, whose references to iconic Nike designs had (and still have) Swoosh aficionados mouth-watering. The love for connecting – in music, via sneakers and on a human level – ran like a thread through DJ Clark Kent’s life:
Rakim, Hikmet Sugoer, basically every New York DJ, Fat Joe, Sean Wotherspoon, Lord Finesse, Joe La Puma from Complex, De La Soul, Mark Ronson, Questlove, and many more: Many of the countless obituaries for Clark Kent come with an anecdote of him opening a door for someone, giving encouragement, or introducing them to a key person in their life.
To celebrate the life of “perhaps the number 1 sneaker head of all time”, we include a heart-felt tribute by Bobbito ‘The Barber’ Garcia to his fellow hip hop and sneaker legend and – most importantly – his friend below. Rest in Peace, DJ Clark Kent.
