According to a statement made by DJ Premier on his Sirius XM satellite radio show, 'Live From HeadQCourterz,' hip-hop legend DJ Kool Herc has been hospitalized and is in need of financial support. While there's no specific details on Herc's illness, Premier claims that the hip-hop veteran's condition is deteriorating, and that he's without medical insurance.

"Kool Herc is very sick," Premier revealed. "For those that know about Hip-Hop, who we call the father of Hip-Hop, Kool Herc, is not doing well. It's funny how we have a father of a culture that still lives, where as in some cultures they are dead and gone even though they may still be worshipped or reflected on in some kind of way [sic]."

Herc, 55, has been widely credited as being the founding father of hip-hop and is known for creating the breakbeat technique, which was later adopted and elevated by Afrika Bambaataa and Grand Wizard Theodore, who would go on to invent scratching and add that to the culture of DJing and hip-hop.

In recent years, the veteran entertainer, born Clive Campbell, has rallied to prevent the sale of 1520 Sedgwick Avenue -- the birthplace of hip-hop where he would spin records at back-to-school parties-- in the Bronx, NY. In 2007, state officials were accepting bids from developers but ceased when the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation officially recognized the building as the birthplace of hip-hop.

Herc, ever passionate about the music he help put on the map, wrote the introduction to author Jeff Chang's book 'Can't Stop Won't Stop.' In it, it's apparent the veteran entertainer looks to hip-hop as a uniting force.

"To me, hip-hop says, 'Come as you are," he wrote. "We are a family. It ain't about security. It ain't about bling-bling. It ain't about how much your gun can shoot. It ain't about $200 sneakers. It is not about me being better than you or you being better than me. It's about you and me, connecting as one."

Donations for Kool Herc can be sent to: Kool Herc Production, P.O. Box 20472, Huntington Station, NY 11746.

I´m all for supporting him and I like the idea of asking fans for support and I wish I were in a situation where I could be of any help but....where is Jay-Z ? Nas? 50Cent? Dre? Eminem? LL Cool J?

Fat Joe from the Bronx? KRS One?

It´s sad that he even has to ASK for financial assistance while most rappers have ridiculous amounts of money that they spend on ridiculous things.

KoolEaze said:

I´m all for supporting him and I like the idea of asking fans for support and I wish I were in a situation where I could be of any help but....where is Jay-Z ? Nas? 50Cent? Dre? Eminem? LL Cool J?

Fat Joe from the Bronx? KRS One?

It´s sad that he even has to ASK for financial assistance while most rappers have ridiculous amounts of money that they spend on ridiculous things.

It won't give them any publicity as the general public doesn't know who Kool Herc is. But I'm sure Puffy P Diddy has money to blow on his big "all white clothes" party that gets him a writeup in the gossip mags.

His hip-hop "sons", "godsons" and "grandsons" ain't gonna chip in. People don't respect the real pioneers.

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KoolEaze said:

I´m all for supporting him and I like the idea of asking fans for support and I wish I were in a situation where I could be of any help but....where is Jay-Z ? Nas? 50Cent? Dre? Eminem? LL Cool J?

Fat Joe from the Bronx? KRS One?

It´s sad that he even has to ASK for financial assistance while most rappers have ridiculous amounts of money that they spend on ridiculous things.

Bingo!

Timmy84 said:

His hip-hop "sons", "godsons" and "grandsons" ain't gonna chip in. People don't respect the real pioneers.

And it's profound sad that Public Enemy might end up being THE only ones that would show respect to the elders older than them.

TonyVanDam said:

Timmy84 said:

His hip-hop "sons", "godsons" and "grandsons" ain't gonna chip in. People don't respect the real pioneers.

And it's profound sad that Public Enemy might end up being THE only ones that would show respect to the elders older than them.

You think they chip in with the money though?

Timmy84 said:

TonyVanDam said:

And it's profound sad that Public Enemy might end up being THE only ones that would show respect to the elders older than them.

You think they chip in with the money though?

I'm not sure. But I'm very sure Chuck D will think of something.

Update: Kool Herc's bills are getting handled

Wow, so incredibly sad! His situation doesn't sound hopeful at all. I pray for his comfort, and sincerely wish I could do more. I hope that those who are ABLE to do more will rally around him with some REAL support.

Here's a DJ that was doing it for the love of his community, and not for the love of money or fame. I'm sure he had no idea that what he was doing back in the day would spark a world-wide phenomenon. This situation really puts things in perspective, and not necessarily a good one.

Rhyging said:

Update: Kool Herc's bills are getting handled

This is good news.

Somebody BETTER had stepped up, or I'll be damned if I was about to spend another penny on Hip-Hop! I'm serious.

Excellent news!

uPtoWnNY said:

Excellent news!

I love Kool Herc, he still needs donations!

Everybody bump up this thread!