Music Editor
Thanks to the seemingly unstoppable gentrification of America's cities, the Bronx apartment where Hip-Hop began was sold to investor and real estate developer Mark Karasick on Oct. 4.The building at 1520 Sedgwick Ave was home to Kool Herc in the 1970s. This legendary DJ hosted the first parties, which would later be considered Hip-Hop cultural events, in the rec room. Kool Herc is considered by many to be the founder of Hip-Hop. One year ago, New York officially dubbed the building "the birthplace of Hip-Hop" and declared it eligible for national and state registrars.
However, the landlord group that owns the building is selling it to pay off their $5 million dollar balance. Now the 100 low and moderate-income tenants who live in the building may face eviction if they can't pay the high rent that would result from the building's renovation.
The tenants and housing advocates tried and failed to stop the sale by filing a law suit in the state Supreme Court.
Hip-Hop started as parties for Bronx residents who couldn't afford to go to the pricey, upscale discos in Manhattan. Now, a historical site for this working-class art form may be reserved for the rich.
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