Larry Smith, the legendary sound architect behind early hits from Run-DMC and Kurtis Blow, has passed away.
Reggie “Combat Jack” Osse spoke with Smith’s family and confirmed the Hip-Hop pioneer’s death.
Smith, born Lawrence Michael Smith, famously contributed to records from Kurtis Blow; he played bass on “Christmas Rappin’” and is credited as a co-writer of “The Breaks.”Smith formed a band called Orange Krush with Davy DMX, Trevor Gale and others that would tour with Blow.
It was through Blow that Smith connected with the rapper’s manager Russell Simmons and would become instrumental in crafting the beats for the first two Run-DMC albums, Run-DMC and King of Rock. A Queens native (St. Albans), Smith produced “It’s Like That” and “Sucker MCs, with both and particularly the latter often credited for changing the sound of Hip-Hop at the time of its release in 1983. A bass guitarist by trade, Smith also contributed production to Whodini (“Five Minutes of Funk,” Freaks Come Out At Night”) and The Fat Boys.
Rest in power Larry Smith.