DJ Chuck Chillout: The Hip-Hop Revolutionist

DJ Chuck Chillout is one of hip-hop’s most legendary DJs and producers, he was the first of his kind. He began his career as a DJ for 98.7 KISS FM, which is where his reputation started to grow.

Growing up, Chuck was fascinated by music. He was so obsessed that when his mother gave him “lunch money,” he would just spend it on records. As his musical interest grew, there was one particular moment that inspired his dream of becoming a DJ. According to an interview Chuck Chillout did with Red Bull, his mother “threw herself a party for her 50th birthday, she hired a DJ and this guy was playing Brass Construction’s ‘Movin.’ But what caught my eye is that he had a real club DJ’s setup, with two turntables and a mixer. I’m like, ‘Yo! Why has this guy got two turntables? What’s going on?’ That started it for me.” As he got older, he began to DJ at his own parties and events.

After solidifying his status as a DJ prodigy in New York City, he earned his first job at 98.7 KISS FM. With his new commercial DJ opportunity and knowledge of underground hip-hop, he knew he had to utilize everything he had and turn it into something revolutionary. Chuck is credited with being the first to debut legendary rap acts such as EPMD, Run-DMC, LL Cool J, Salt-N-Pepa, and Slick Rick. Furthermore, he’s renowned for being the first DJ to play hip-hop in Japan. Artists like A Tribe Called Quest and Busta Rhymes would’ve never reached global fame if it weren’t for Chillout breaking their records.

Chuck later joined WBLS in 1990, where he is today, always providing everyone with positivity through music. Check him out every Saturday at 10 p.m. EST!