Robert Ford Jr. | |
|---|---|
 Ford in 1999 | |
| Born | June 30, 1949 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | May 19, 2020 (aged 70) New York City, U.S. |
| Other names | Rocky |
| Occupations |
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| Known for | Writing the first article about hip-hop in a major publication |
Robert "Rocky" Ford Jr. (June 30, 1949 – May 19, 2020) was an American journalist and record producer. While working for Billboard in 1978, Ford wrote the first article about hip-hop to appear in any major publication. He went on to produce albums and write songs for acts including Kurtis Blow, Rodney Dangerfield, and Full Force, and has been recognized as having played "a crucial role in early commercial hip-hop".[1] Ford has been credited as a mentor by entrepreneur Russell Simmons.