NPR

Lovebug Starski, Rapper And DJ Who Stood At The Vanguard Of Hip-Hop, Dead At 57

He helped give birth to the culture, and the catchphrase, that would become the most-consumed genre one year before his death.
Lovebug Starski, far right, on November 6, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The DJ and rapper died Thursday, Feb. 8 2018. With him, from left, are fellow hip-hop pioneers Doug E. Fresh and Grandmaster Caz.

Pioneering DJ and rapper Lovebug Starski, who helped develop the nascent form of hip-hop in the Bronx in the late '70s, died Thursday afternoon of a heart attack at his Las Vegas home, his manager has confirmed to NPR. He was 57.

In a genre built on catchphrases, Lovebug Starski is

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from NPR

NPR3 min readAmerican Government
A Michigan Grassroots Effort Is Raising Reparations, While The Government Lags
The year 2020 was a turning point for Lansing, Michigan resident Willye Bryan. Between the racial reckoning following the murder of George Floyd and the health disparities that hit the African American community during the pandemic, she knew it was t
NPR2 min readAmerican Government
Majorie Taylor Greene Is Planning A Vote Next Week To Oust Speaker Johnson
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., says she will follow through on her threat to hold a vote to oust Speaker Mike Johnson sometime next week, despite signs that her effort will fail.
NPR2 min read
Walmart Says It Will Close Its 51 Health Centers And Virtual Care Service
The Arkansas-based company said that after managing the clinics it launched in 2019 and expanding its telehealth program, it concluded "there is not a sustainable business model for us to continue."

Related Books & Audiobooks