Clark Kent (producer)
Encyclopedia
Clark Kent is a hip hop
DJ, record producer
and music executive of Panamanian descent . His crew of DJs is called "The Supermen", and his DJ moniker is derived from the name of Superman
's alter ego.
In the mid 1980s, Clark Kent was rapper Dana Dane
's DJ.
In 1989 he produced the remix for Troop's hit song "Spread My Wings." Clark scored his first street hit with the Junior M.A.F.I.A.
song "Player's Anthem" which featured The Notorious B.I.G.
and was also the first record that Lil' Kim
appeared on. The biggest hit he produced was "Loverboy
" by Mariah Carey
, which peaked at #2 in the US on Billboard's Hot 100 chart. He also produced tracks for artists such as 50 Cent
, Lil' Kim
, the Notorious B.I.G., Canibus
, Mad Skillz, Estelle (musician)
, Lil' Vicious, Mona Lisa, Slick Rick
and Rakim
as well as groups such as The Future Sound and Original Flavor
, both of which were signed to East West Records and Atlantic Records
respectively, both groups having been signed by Clark who was a director of A&R at Atlantic at the time.
Original Flavor, on their single "Can I Get Open", featured a guest appearance by a then little known rapper named Jay-Z
. This would lead to further collaborations between the two, as Franklin would go on to produce three tracks on Jay-Z's critically acclaimed debut album, Reasonable Doubt
. The tracks were: "Brooklyn's Finest", which featured Notorious B.I.G., "Coming of Age" and "Cashmere Thoughts." On his (then) retirement album The Black Album
, Jay-Z alludes to Clark Kent's role in helping him break into the industry, in the last song on the album (ironically titled "My 1st Song"). He states: "Clark Kent, that was good lookin' out, nigga."
Clark accidentally overheard the then unknown rapper Moses Michael Leviy (AKA Jamal Barrow BKA Shyne
) rhyming in a barbershop, who, noting the young MC's vocal similarity to Notorious B.I.G., steered him towards Combs and Bad Boy.
He is also the cousin of recording artist Foxy Brown.
In 2010 Nike commissioned DJ Clark Kent to design a "Nike Five Boroughs AF1 Low" pack of special limited edition Nike Air Force 1
shoes and unveiled them at fully catered a block party in Manhattan's SoHo
neighborhood on Mercer Street outside the Nike ID store at 21 Mercer.
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
DJ, record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
and music executive of Panamanian descent . His crew of DJs is called "The Supermen", and his DJ moniker is derived from the name of Superman
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
's alter ego.
In the mid 1980s, Clark Kent was rapper Dana Dane
Dana Dane
Dana McLeese, better known by his stage name Dana Dane, is an American hip hop recording artist known for performance of humorous lyrics and for his fashion sense.-Early life:...
's DJ.
In 1989 he produced the remix for Troop's hit song "Spread My Wings." Clark scored his first street hit with the Junior M.A.F.I.A.
Junior M.A.F.I.A.
Junior M.A.F.I.A. is an American hip hop group from Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York. The acronym M.A.F.I.A. stands for Masters At Finding Intelligent Attitudes. They were formed and mentored by New York rapper, The Notorious B.I.G., in the early 1990s and released their debut album,...
song "Player's Anthem" which featured The Notorious B.I.G.
The Notorious B.I.G.
Christopher George Latore Wallace , best known as The Notorious B.I.G., was an American rapper. He was also known as Biggie Smalls , Big Poppa, and The Black Frank White .Wallace was raised in the Brooklyn borough...
and was also the first record that Lil' Kim
Lil' Kim
Kimberly Denise Jones , better known by her stage name Lil' Kim, is an American rapper and actress who was a member of the group Junior M.A.F.I.A.....
appeared on. The biggest hit he produced was "Loverboy
Loverboy (Mariah Carey song)
"Loverboy" is a song by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey. It was released on July 16, 2001 by Virgin Records as the lead single from Carey's eighth studio album, Glitter . Written and produced by Carey, Larry Blackmon, Thomas Jenkins, Clark Kent, "Loverboy" is built around a sample from...
" by Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. She made her recording debut with the release of her eponymous studio album in 1990, under the guidance of Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola, whom she later married in 1993...
, which peaked at #2 in the US on Billboard's Hot 100 chart. He also produced tracks for artists such as 50 Cent
50 Cent
Curtis James Jackson III , better known by his stage name 50 Cent, is an American rapper, entrepreneur, investor, record producer, and actor. He rose to fame with the release of his albums Get Rich or Die Tryin and The Massacre . Get Rich or Die Tryin has been certified eight times platinum by...
, Lil' Kim
Lil' Kim
Kimberly Denise Jones , better known by her stage name Lil' Kim, is an American rapper and actress who was a member of the group Junior M.A.F.I.A.....
, the Notorious B.I.G., Canibus
Canibus
Germaine Williams , better known by his stage name Canibus, is a Jamaican-born American rapper. He is a part of supergroup The HRSMN. Canibus rose to fame in the mid-nineties...
, Mad Skillz, Estelle (musician)
Estelle (musician)
Estelle Fanta Swaray commonly known as Estelle, and formerly as Est'elle, is an English R&B singer-songwriter, rapper and record producer.-Early Life:Estelle was born 18 January 1980 in Hammersmith, London, England...
, Lil' Vicious, Mona Lisa, Slick Rick
Slick Rick
Richard Walters , better known by his stage name Slick Rick is a Grammy-nominated English-American rapper...
and Rakim
Rakim
William Michael Griffin Jr. , known by his stage names Rakim , Rakim Allah, R.A.K.I.M., and The Master, is an American rapper. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential and most skilled emcees of all time. Eric B...
as well as groups such as The Future Sound and Original Flavor
Original Flavor
Original Flavor was a hip hop group from the mid 90's. The group originally consisted of Ski and Suave Lover. They released two albums This Is How It Is and Beyond Flavor although for Beyond Flavor Suave Lover was replaced by T-Strong and DJ Chubby Chub. They had a hit with the song "Can I Get...
, both of which were signed to East West Records and Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
respectively, both groups having been signed by Clark who was a director of A&R at Atlantic at the time.
Original Flavor, on their single "Can I Get Open", featured a guest appearance by a then little known rapper named Jay-Z
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
. This would lead to further collaborations between the two, as Franklin would go on to produce three tracks on Jay-Z's critically acclaimed debut album, Reasonable Doubt
Reasonable Doubt
Reasonable Doubt is the debut album of American rapper Jay-Z, released June 25, 1996 on Roc-A-Fella Records in the United States and on Northwestside Records in the United Kingdom. The album features production by DJ Premier, Ski, Knobody and Clark Kent, and guest appearances from Memphis Bleek,...
. The tracks were: "Brooklyn's Finest", which featured Notorious B.I.G., "Coming of Age" and "Cashmere Thoughts." On his (then) retirement album The Black Album
The Black Album (Jay-Z album)
The Black Album is the eighth studio album by American rapper Jay-Z, released November 14, 2003, on Roc-A-Fella Records. It was promoted as his final studio album, which serves as a recurring theme, although Jay-Z returned to solo recording with Kingdom Come in 2006.The album debuted at number one...
, Jay-Z alludes to Clark Kent's role in helping him break into the industry, in the last song on the album (ironically titled "My 1st Song"). He states: "Clark Kent, that was good lookin' out, nigga."
Clark accidentally overheard the then unknown rapper Moses Michael Leviy (AKA Jamal Barrow BKA Shyne
Shyne
Moshe Levi Ben-David , better known by his stage name Shyne, is a Belizean rapper.-Background:...
) rhyming in a barbershop, who, noting the young MC's vocal similarity to Notorious B.I.G., steered him towards Combs and Bad Boy.
He is also the cousin of recording artist Foxy Brown.
In 2010 Nike commissioned DJ Clark Kent to design a "Nike Five Boroughs AF1 Low" pack of special limited edition Nike Air Force 1
Air Force 1 (shoe)
The Air Force 1 athletic shoe is a product of Nike, Inc. created by designer Bruce Kilgore. This was the first basketball shoe to use the Nike Air technology. This shoe is offered in low, mid and high top.-Overview:...
shoes and unveiled them at fully catered a block party in Manhattan's SoHo
SoHo
SoHo is a neighborhood in Lower Manhattan, New York City, notable for being the location of many artists' lofts and art galleries, and also, more recently, for the wide variety of stores and shops ranging from trendy boutiques to outlets of upscale national and international chain stores...
neighborhood on Mercer Street outside the Nike ID store at 21 Mercer.