DJ Kool Herc soundsystem sells for over $200k at Christie's auction

A soundsystem that belonged to hip-hop pioneer DJ Kool Herc has sold at auction for $201,600.

The Christie’s auction took place yesterday, with the system selling for more than its estimated $100,000-150,000 worth. Also sold in the auction were a number of other items that formerly belonged to Kool Herc, as well as various memorabilia associated with the origins of hip-hop.

The sound system was described by Christie’s as Kool Herc’s “main working soundsystem”, which the Jamaican-American DJ used from the mid-1970s through to the 1980s. Herc is credited as providing the blueprint for the origins of hip-hip in the Bronx in the ’70s with his “merry-go-round” technique. 

“Following his purchase of the Acoustic PA System in 1973, he continued to build his soundsystem, adding additional components over the years,” read Christie’s item description. “Perhaps the most significant early addition was the GLI 3880 mixer, which replaced the eight-channel acoustic mixer, allowing Herc to more easily switch between his two turntables (rather than using two hands to manually switch channels).

“The 300 Watt McIntosh amplifier provided sufficient power to fill a room, playground, basketball court or a park with sound — solidifying its reputation as one of the most dominant soundsystems in the Bronx during the 1970s.”

A quote from Herc shared as part of the description, taken from some decades ago, says “that thing cost a lot of money and pumped a lot of juice. It was 300 watts per channel. As the juice start coming man, the lights star dimming. And the turntables, I had the Technics 1100A, the big ones, so it wouldn’t turn.”

Check out the soundsystem listing here, and find the full Christie’s auction collection here.

In 2020, The Notorious B.I.G.’s iconic crown sold for almost $600,000 at auction, while a rare record, established as the “holy grail” of hip-hop vinyl, also sold for $126,000 that same year.