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Hines, Eric And Johnson, Lance And Wheeler, David, Bronx African American History Project

Oral Histories

Interviewers: Brian Purnell, Mark Naison, Princess Okieme, Dolores Munoz

Interviewees: Eric Hines, Lance Johnson, Joshua Wheeler

Summarized by Leigh Waterbury

Eric “DJ Cool Clyde” Hines and Lance “DJ Lightnin’ Lance” Johnson were both born and raised in theBronxin the 1960’s. Eric Hines was born July 31, 1966 and grew up in the Soundview section of theBronx, in the Skylar House. Lance Johnson was born August 6, 1962 and was raised mostly in the Lafayette-Boynton Avenue Houses betweenStory AvenueandBoynton Avenue. Both men briefly discussed their childhoods and the negative environments of drugs and gangs that attracted many children their age. Hines …

Smith, Troy, Bronx African American History Project

Oral Histories

Troy Smith was born in Harlem in 1966 and lived on 123^rd Street and Amsterdam Avenue. He grew up during the emergence of hip hop in the city and into the mainstream. In this interview he describes his experience growing up during this time as well as his strong interest in hip hop. Troy attended Junior High 43, the same one that Kool Mo Dee and some of the Treacherous Three and Fearless Four had attended a few years ahead of him. Growing up there was hip hop influence all around him, especially with the block parties held in …