Synonymous with deejaying as Dr. J is to basketball, pioneering turntabalist Jerome Hewlett, famously known as DJ Cash Money [click to read], called out organizers of Philadelphia’s DJ Day. Affirmed by the city as September 24, Philly DJ Day was established to celebrate local disc jockeys and commemorate their legacy.
As part of the induction to being recognized as an offical day, a proclamation was produced and signed by mayor Michael Nutter, highlighting the City of Brotherly Love’s most notable deejays, however, DJ Cash Money’s name was nowhere on the document. After brushing off the omission as an error, organizers revised the proclamation, only this time, accrediting the Philadelphia native as what seemed like an “honorable mention”.
Undoubtedly recognized as one of the world’s greatest, Cash Money is an epic force in Hip Hop and a skillful master in the art of deejaying, Credited alongside DJ Jazzy Jeff [click to read], whose name was included on both versions of the proclamation, he originated the transform scratch, inherently a defining feature of spinning on the ones and twos. The legendary deejay’s accolades span from champion of the New Music Seminar Supermen DJ Battle in 1987 to being crowned DMC World Champion in 1988, and the first to be inducted into the Technics Hall of Fame in 1998.
After being insulted by the organizers of Philly DJ Day for the lack of appreciation of not only himself but other distinguished Philadelphia disc jockeys who were left out, he penned an open letter, urging the organizers to “start over, regroup, sit down with the true legends and get it right.”
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“Let me start by saying that this isn’t just about me, this is about
pioneering and legendary DJs from Philadelphia who are not being
recognized.
Just as everyone knows that Hip Hop’s founding fathers are Kool DJ
Herc, Afrika Bambaataa and Grandmaster Flash from the Bronx – it is
common knowledge that DJ Jazzy Jeff and myself are the most famous Hip
Hop DJ legends from Philadelphia.
When the first Philly DJ Day took place in 2008,
I was invited to attend and help celebrate its launch.
DJs from every decade in Philadelphia Hip Hop history attended and
many group photos were taken of us to commemorate this day of unity.
Around the beginning of 2009, the organizers of Philly DJ Day received
a proclamation, signed by the Mayor of Philadelphia, confirming an
official Philly DJ Day to be celebrated annually. They proudly
announced it. I was excited to read it myself!
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To my surprise, my name was left off the proclamation though some of
my friends were included…and was I naturally upset! DJs included on
the first document included DJ Jazzy Jeff, DJ AM (Rest in Peace), DJ
Drama, Schoolly D, ?uest Love, King Britt and Rich Medina.
When I called Philly DJ Day to let them know about this error, they
had not noticed that my name had been left out. They claimed that it
was a typo or some mistake and that they would work on it. I wondered
how something so important and final could be released and signed
without review or edits.
By September 2009, the organizers said they finally fixed the problem,
but when I viewed the updated document, it felt like my name was just
thrown in for “honorable mention” and they changed the honorees
around. At this point, I felt the second version aimed at pacifying me
was more insulting than the first!
Please view both versions of the Philly DJ Proclamation at
myspace.com/djcashmoney12
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I wondered why other DJ legends weren’t included on either document
like the original DJ Spinbad, Lady B, Grandmaster Nell, DJ Miz, Too
Tuff, Cosmic Kev, DJ Ran, Grand Wizzard Rasheen, Tat Money, Lightning
Rich, Josh Wink and the list goes on!
There are so many DJs who trail blazed! Maybe it would have been
better to just call it Philly DJ Day, not name anyone and have it be
all inclusive. However, if the more accomplished DJs were to be
highlighted, it would have been better that we all sat down had a
chance to offer our input.
If the proper history of the Philly DJ is not going to be told, it’s
better not to do it at all. I give Philly DJ Day an A+ for effort but
an F for history.
Yet Philly DJ Day continues to include my likeness on their website
knowing that I am not happy with the organization and therefore I do
not support it. When the Philly DJ Day organizers sent DMC (the
longest running, most legendary DJ competition) a sponsorship proposal
for 2009, which included my photo, they were turned down because
Philly DJ Day wasn’t even recognizing the only DMC Champion from
Philly! DMC supports me 100%!
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Thus, some may want to say that I am being egotistical or hard to deal
with for standing up for what is right but I won’t be written out of
history. I have been silent far too long about the cliquishness that
goes down in this city. I tour all over the world repping Philly to
the fullest. The fact that I won the DJ World DJ Championship in 1988
and am the only DJ to bring this title to Philly speaks volumes. I was
also inducted into the Technics/DMC Hall of Fame.
A great DJ is not made overnight! You have to put in time, blood,
sweat and tears. You become known as a legend from your fans and
fellow DJ’s. I didn’t give myself these titles, other people did.
Rightfully so, I’ve earned my place in history. It’s like discussing
Philadelphia basketball and never mentioning Dr. J.
I would suggest that the organizers start over, regroup, sit down with
the true legends and get it right.”
Sincerely,
DJ Cash Money
