DJ Kool

Bio

DJ Kool (born John W. Bowman Jr. in 1959) is an American go-go and old-school hip-hop artist from Washington, D.C. He first gained attention in the mid-1980s with singles such as "The Music Ain't Loud Enuff" and "Let the Music Play," which showcased his energetic call-and-response style rooted in the city's go-go scene. His biggest commercial success came in 1996 with the party anthem "Let Me Clear My Throat," which reached the Billboard Hot 100 and became a staple of 1990s hip-hop and dance playlists. The track, built around samples of classic breakbeats and crowd chants, remains his signature recording.