Kool DJ Red Alert Interview

Kool DJ Red Alert is a DJ from Harlem, NY. He grew up playing basketball and was offered a college scholarship to play. In high school, he hung out at the parties thrown by Kool DJ Herc and Coke La Rock in the Bronx and downtown parties by Grandmaster Flash, Together Brothers, and Pete DJ Jones. Soon after, Red was spinning at parties on his own equipment. He taugh his cousin DJ Jazzy Jay the basics of the art form and Jazzy Jay introduced Red to Afrikaa Bambaata. Red later became the DJ for Bambaata and the Zulu Nation. Red Alert met the program director of 98.7 KISS FM and was hired to introduce the Dance Mix Party. Red became the top DJ at KISS and remained there for 11 years. In 1994, he moved to Hot 97 and hosted two daily shows. Red founded Red Alert Productions, a production and management company responsible for launching the careers of A Tribe Called Quest, Jungle Brothers, Monie Love, Black Sheep, Queen Latifah, and more. Red Alert was named one of the 50 most influential people in music by Rolling Stone Magazine. He has a display in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and was inducted to the Bronx Walk of Fame.