Jerome Hewlett (born August 9, 1964), better known by his moniker DJ Cash Money is a Philadelphia-based American turntablist, hip-hop artist, and record producer. He was the first inductee into the DJ Hall of Fame.
Career Hewlett studied engineering at college, but soon shifted his focus to the turntables. He adopted his DJ moniker from the phrase "there's the money shot", which people would yell whenever he threw the ball into the net while playing basketball. Among his inspirations Cash Money lists Grandmaster Flash and Grand Wizzard Theodore, whom he saw in the early 1980s, while artists who count him among their own inspirations include British DJ Fatboy Slim.
He and Jazzy Jeff both emerged from the Philadelphia hip hop scene in the late 1980s. They shared a friendly rivalry and DJ'd parties together as the Kings of Spin. Cash Money perfected the Transform scratch (along with Jazzy Jeff) which mimicked the robotic sound effects from the mid-80s television cartoon series of the same name. He is also credited with creating the Pee Wee Herman scratch and pioneering the Chirp scratch (aka the Babuggamas scratch).
In 1987, he partnered with MC Marvelous (born Marvin Berryman) and released the single "Ugly People be Quiet" (co-produced by Herbie "Love Bug" Azor) and the album, Where's The Party At? on Sleeping Bag Records. Cash Money has also produced and remixed tracks for artists such as Snoop Dogg, Busta Rhymes, Mantronix, P.M. Dawn, and Public Enemy.
Accomplishments Cash Money won the New Music Seminar Supermen DJ Battle in 1987 and the DMC World DJ Championships in 1988.
In 1998, turntable manufacturer Technics made Cash Money the first inductee into the DJ Hall of Fame.
Discography
Cash Money and Marvelous
Albums Year Album USHip-hop 1988 Where's The Party At? 26
Singles Year Title USUK AlbumRapUK Singles Chart 1987 "Play It Kool" /"Ugly People Be Quiet" — Where's The Party At? 1988 "Find An Ugly Woman" /"The Mighty Hard Rocker"1184 1989 "A Real Mutha For Ya" /"New Sheriff In Town" —
DJ Cash Money mix tapes Old School Need Ta Learn'o Plot I W.K.I.S. Holiday Head Twister Kickin Flava Freestyle Flavor Guess Who's Comin' To Dinner? (1996) Old School Need Ta Learn'o Plot II (1997) Head Bangin' Funk 45's (2005)
References
External links [ DJ Cash Money] in Allmusic DJ Cash Money in Discogs Interview with DJ Cash Money at Earwaks
Article on DJ Cash Money by World of Beats DJ Cash Money Interview at NAMM Oral History Collection (2012)