This upcoming August 27 marks 30 years since Scott La Rock (aka Scott Sterling) was shot and killed in the Bronx, New York. A founding member and DJ/producer of Boogie Down Productions, Scott lived to enjoy just one album release, 1987’s classic Criminal Minded. The musical partner of KRS-One, the cousin of D-Nice, and the friend to Just-Ice, Greg Nice, DJ Red Alert and others was one of the first Hip-Hop artists to die amidst rising fame, and helped celebrate the borough’s (especially the South Bronx) impact on Hip-Hop 15 years after the culture’s celebrated birth.
For much of his youth, Sterling lived in the Morrisania section of the New York City borough. After attending Castleton State College in Vermont, Scott would return to the B-X as a social worker in shelters. Eventually, this is how La Rock would cross paths with his would-be band-mate, KRS.
On Friday May 19, the intersection of Jerome Avenue and Kingsbridge Road will host a street-naming dedication in Scott La Rock’s honor. The ceremony begins at 2pm.
Last night (May 7), 30 year-old Scott La Rock, Jr. appeared on DJ Eclipse’s Rap Is Outta Control radio show on Hip Hop Nation to promote the event. Scott’s son now runs the SLR Music label, keeping his father’s name alive in Hip-Hop. While there, he credited The Universal Hip-Hop Museum and its founder Rocky Bucano for being instrumental in organizing the dedication and corresponding event. According to the show appearance, D-Nice is reported to be one of the Hip-Hop artists expected to attend.
A Tribe Called Quest’s Phife Dawg (Queens) and Brooklyn Academy’s Pumpkinhead (Brooklyn) are some of the artists to also get street dedications in New York City.
Criminal Minded celebrated its 30th anniversary in March.
Source: Ambrosia For Heads