The late, great producer and hip-hop legend DJ Clark Kent was known for his pivotal role in shaping the sound of ’90s rap, particularly through his work with Jay-Z and The Notorious B.I.G. Before his passing in 2024, Kent shared one of the most celebrated stories in rap history: how he orchestrated the legendary collaboration between the two Brooklyn kings, Jay-Z and Biggie, on the Reasonable Doubt track “Brooklyn’s Finest.”
The Track That Almost Wasn’t
According to Clark Kent, the beat for “Brooklyn’s Finest”—which he produced—was initially designated solely for Jay-Z. However, an unplanned encounter nearly saw the track go to Biggie instead.
Kent recounted the moment to Scoop B Radio: “I got to the studio to lay it for Jay, Big heard the track and he wanted it for himself.” Because the track was already reserved for Hov, Kent couldn’t give it up. Instead, he devised a plan to get both rap titans on the song: “But I said [to Biggie]: ‘If you come to the studio and wait downstairs, I’ll tell him that you should be on the record and we’ll see what happens.’”
Jay-Z agreed, but Biggie’s appearance came as a surprise. Kent recalled Jay-Z’s reaction: “I brought Big upstairs and Jay thought I was a funny guy for not telling him that Big was downstairs.”
Jay-Z’s Lyrical Challenge
Once the collaboration was confirmed, Jay-Z took the competition seriously. He immediately went into the studio to enhance his performance. Kent revealed that Jay-Z strategically tailored his verses to match Biggie’s greatness: “Everything you hear from Jay on that record was changed 20 minutes after he laid what he laid.” He explained that Jay-Z “basically set up every one of Big’s verses with a rhyme and then asked Big was he ready.”
The move stunned Biggie, who was used to setting the bar. According to Kent, Biggie was “so blown away by it. He was like: ‘he wasn’t ready’ and said he needed some time.” Biggie took the verse home and perfected his contribution, returning two months later to record his part.
Producing the Hook
The track’s evolution wasn’t over after the verses were laid down. Clark Kent humorously recalled being left with a technical challenge: neither rapper had created a chorus. “I had to figure out a hook because they left me in the studio with no hook,” he said. Kent decided to solve the problem himself: “So I was there trying to become a hook guy! So I went in the booth and did the hook and luckily everybody was happy because otherwise the record would have never happened.”
Clark Kent’s willingness to push both artists and step in to finalize the classic record is a testament to his central role in the Golden Era of Hip-Hop. The story of “Brooklyn’s Finest” remains a favorite among fans, preserving the memory of a pivotal moment in music history made possible by Rodolfo A. Franklin, God’s Favorite DJ.
