Lovebug Starski  

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Kevin Smith (May 16, 1960 – February 8, 2018), best known by his stage name Lovebug Starski, was an American MC, musician, and record producer. He began his career as a record boy in 1971 as hip-hop first appeared in the Bronx, and he eventually became a DJ at the Disco Fever club in 1978. He is one of two people who may have come up with the term "hip-hop".

Career

In the Bronx, Kevin Smith, better known as Lovebug Starski, was considered one of the first Hip Hop style rappers. Lovebug Starski joined Pete DJ Jones' sets (a Disco set). Starski was DJ Hollywood's partner and he migrated the Hip Hop style rapping from Disco DJing to Hip Hop DJing when he jammed at what became known as the Burger King Disco, and later worked with Grandmaster Flash. DJ Kool Herc said the first MCs he heard that rhymed in the Hip Hop style were Melle Mel and his brother Kidd Creole, who were both part of Flash's crew. But Starski is the person who introduced it to the Bronx Hip Hop set where it quickly became the standard. Starski recorded his first single, "Positive Life," on the Tayster record label in 1981. Sampling by the British Group MARRS with the #1 single “Pump up the Volume” in 1987. Later, he recorded a song for the soundtrack of the 1986 film Rappin', which was released on Atlantic Records, before recording his first album, House Rocker, on Epic/CBS Records. This featured his most successful chart single, "Amityville (The House on the Hill)," a parody song named in reference to the film The Amityville Horror (itself based on alleged supernatural activities surrounding the DeFeo murder case) was a #12 hit on the UK Singles Chart in 1986.

Lovebug Starski and World Famous Brucie B also worked together at the Rooftop Roller rink in Harlem during the 1980s. In the 1990s, Starski began DJing again with his friend DJ Hollywood.

Starski died of a heart attack in Las Vegas on February 8, 2018, at the age of 57.

He left behind three daughters: Shantel Sha’Lise Williams from Bronx NY (oldest) and Tiffany Williams (youngest) of New York.

Discography

Albums

• House Rocker (1986)

Singles

• "Gangster Rock" (1979) (as Little Starsky)
• "Dancin' Party People" (1981) (as Little Starsky)
• "Positive Life" (1981) (with Harlem World Crew)
• "Live At The Fever" (1983) (On Fever Records)
• "Live At The Fever Pt.2" (1983) (On Fever Records)
• "You've Gotta Believe" (On Fever Records Also) (1983)
• "Do The Right Thing" (1984)
• "House Rocker" (1985)
• "Rappin'" (1985)
• "Amityville (The House on the Hill)" (1986)
• "Saturday Night" (1986)