DJ Clark Kent—a record producer who worked with huge names in hip hop like Jay-Z, the Notorious B.I.G., and Kanye West—died Thursday, surrounded by his family, after a three-year battle with colon cancer. Kent, born Rodolfo Franklin, was 58. His family announced his death in a post to the producer’s Instagram page. “Clark passed away Thursday evening surrounded by his devoted wife Kesha, daughter Kabriah and son Antonio,” it read. “Clark quietly and valiantly fought a three year battle with Colon Cancer, while continuing to share his gifts with the world.” Kent was a fixture of the New York City hip-hop scene, getting his start in the late 1980s as a DJ for Brooklyn rapper Dana Dane. Throughout the 90s, Kent would produce tracks for some of hip hop’s biggest figures. He produced the hit “Player’s Anthem” for Biggie Smalls and three tracks on Jay-Z’s debut album, Reasonable Doubt. In 2018, he worked on the track “I Love It” by Kanye West and Lil Pump. He had been dubbed “God’s favorite DJ.” Kent is the subject of a forthcoming documentary by New York City radio personality Angie Martinez.
