Fans Rally Around Legendary DJ Shortkut as He Recovers From a Stroke

Shortkut is a pillar of Bay Area DJ culture. The founding member of Invisibl Skratch Piklz helped push turntablism forward as an art form, and has garnered countless accolades and performed on some of the world’s biggest stages.

On July 1, just after playing at the Hollywood Bowl with The Roots, Queen Latifah and Common, he suffered a stroke that caused paralysis, vision loss, speech difficulties and other complications, according to a GoFundMe that his family created. Shortkut’s former manager, Alex Aquino, told KQED that the DJ’s condition has greatly improved in the month since, and that he’s grateful for the outpouring of support from fans and the music community.

“Every day he’s getting better,” Aquino said.

As of publication time, the GoFundMe has raised upwards of $122,000, more than doubling its $60,000 goal. At Victory Hall & Parlor in San Francisco on Aug. 4, there’ll be a benefit block party with sets from Shortkut’s day-one collaborators Mix Master Mike, Qbert and Apollo; the Golden State Warriors’ DJ D Sharp and the Giants’ Umami; and other prominent DJs like Mind Motion, Scotty Fox, DJ Amen and others.

“For decades he’s been doing so much community work and fundraisers, and it’s really cool now [that] so many people are rallying for him and rooting for him to get better,” Aquino continued. “I know he’s very humbled and very grateful and touched about how now he’s on the other side of the give-back. He’s overwhelmed with love.”

The ‘Shortkut to a Speedy Recovery’ fundraiser takes place on Sunday, Aug. 4 at Victory Hall & Parlor (360 Ritch St., San Francisco), with brunch 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. and a block party 1–6 p.m. Details and tickets here.