Imagine if Jay-Z was never discovered. In 1995, he shared how he went to every single record label, only to get rejected. The 90s was a time when Nas and Big were big names, but Jay-Z had no one backing him. Growing up around violence and drugs, rapping was his escape away from it all, and so when he met Damon Dash and Kareem ‘Biggs’ Burke, they quickly formed their own independent label, Roc-A-Fella Records. But it was DJ Clark Kent, aka Rodolfo Franklin, who introduced Jay-Z to Dash.

In 1996, DJ Clark Kent produced three songs on Jay-Z’s landmark debut album, ‘Reasonable Doubt’: ‘Cashmere Thoughts’, ‘Coming of Age’, and ‘Brooklyn’s Finest’. The latter featured Notorious B.I.G. He continued his production work with the Notorious B.I.G.’s ‘Sky’s the Limit’ but one of the biggest hits of his career came with Mariah Carey’s ‘Loverboy’.

But it took a lot of effort for him to work with Jay-Z. ‘God’s favorite DJ’ once said, “It was so hard for me to get Jay to rap. After he started to enterprise [sell drugs], he was extremely comfortable. He never really stopped enterprising while we were in the beginnings of making the Jay-Z that you know.”

The man who backed the rapper and established his own legacy in hip-hop for nearly four decades is no more. He was 58 years old.

Born on Sept. 28, 1966, the hip-hop culture picked up in the next decade and he was right there to drive it ahead. Kent was a DJ for the rapper Dana Dane in the 1980s and even traveled with him on tour. He brought Brooklyn hip-hop to Manhattan before it went mainstream.

His family shared a post on Instagram which stated, “It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of the beloved Rodolfo A. Franklin, known to the world as DJ Clark Kent. Clark passed away Thursday evening surrounded by his devoted wife Kesha, daughter Kabriah and son Antonio.”

“Clark quietly and valiantly fought a three year battle with Colon Cancer, while continuing to share his gifts with the world. The family is grateful for everyone’s love, support and prayers during this time and ask for privacy as they process this immense loss.”

Notably, DJ Clark Kent first rose to prominence in the 1980s and cemented his place in hip-hop history by producing the 1995 hit ‘Player’s Anthem’ for Junior M.A.F.I.A. and ‘The Notorious B.I.G.’, a track that climbed to No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100. It is a huge loss for the music and entertainment industry and in line with this, Gabrielle Union-Wade shared her thoughts.

Dwyane Wade’s wife took to her Instagram stories and wrote, “Rest in peace Cark Kent… Legends lost. Angels found. Tight hugs and prayers to all who loved him.”

Meanwhile, another name from the basketball community who expressed a sense of loss was Kenny Smith. “You will be missed! Love you my brother @djclarkkent,” he wrote on his IG story. But DJ Clark Kent was so much more than a music producer.

DJ Clark Kent: He was an avid sneaker collector

In September 2024, Clark reflected on his career, family, and legacy in an interview with News12. The shoot happened in Old Mill Basin, Brooklyn—That is the neighborhood where he raised his family and also where he designed his first sneaker. He had designed sneakers for brands like Nike and Adidas.

He created the first sneaker for Nike in 2009—the ‘112 Pack’. But what led to his success in this niche? It was the storytelling he did through his art. “Every ZIP code in Brooklyn is 112. That was my story. I picked my favorite colors and material and came up with the idea. I got challenged to do it on a different silhouette, so my first pack had three shoes in it. I was only looking for one, so that was kind of crazy,” Kent shared in the interview.

He may have designed his first sneaker in Old Mill Basin, but his passion for the craft was sparked in Crown Heights, where kicks were more than footwear. “You couldn’t afford a car. You could get a bike, but how cool do you look sweaty getting off a bike? Sneakers were our cars.”

Owing to their old connection, Nike shared their statement upon his demise. “We are deeply saddened by the passing of our dear friend and true cultural icon, DJ Clark Kent. At Nike, we were honored to collaborate with Clark on projects that celebrated not only his deep love for sneakers but also his unwavering dedication to pushing creative boundaries and elevating culture.”

“His impact on the world of sneakers is beyond measure, with an influence that spans the globe and generations. Clark’s legacy will forever inspire future talent, leaving a lasting mark on our industry. Our hearts go out to Clark’s family, friends, and all those touched by his extraordinary talent, passion, and kindness. His presence will be greatly missed,” Nike told ‘Variety’.

DJ Clark Kent’s influence on sneaker culture has been big. No wonder back in 2012, Complex ranked him as the No.1 on their ’25 Biggest Celebrity Sneakerheads’ list.