DJ Kool

DJ Kool, born Erik Blake, is an American DJ and turntablist from Washington, D.C., closely associated with the city's go-go music scene. He became widely known for the energetic, crowd-interactive party-rap style of his live performances, blending old-school hip hop breaks with the percussive, call-and-response feel of go-go.

His best-known recording, «Let Me Clear My Throat», originated as a live routine before being released as a studio single in the mid-1990s. Built around iconic breaks and call-and-response hooks, it became a staple of hip hop and party playlists, sampled and referenced widely, and remains his signature song decades later.

DJ Kool's work sits at the intersection of DJ culture and go-go, a regional funk-driven genre distinctive to the D.C. area, and he helped bring elements of that sound to a national hip hop audience. His live-recorded style, emphasizing turntable showmanship and audience participation, set him apart from more studio-focused producers of his era.