COURTESY OF �A�IM �ELL���OTOGRA�E �Y�ILL �ERNANDEZ |
�Jing inCOVID times isn ’ t easy . But Prince Hakim , who knows one or two things about the subject , is getting the job done . Hakim , a . k . a . Hakim Bell , a Montclair�based musician , is aenter� tainer atVentanas in Fort Lee and Sophia in Englewood .
“ �obody ’ s really dancing ,” hesays . “ They may want to . They catch the spirit , but then the managers come to either me or them ( so they ’ ll ) calm down . That ’ s alittle bummer for a deejay because when you get some� one dancing , it ’ s agood vibe . At the same time , Iunderstand . Hey , you got to be six feet apart , and you don ’ t want COVID spreading in here .”
Bell has rocked the clubs of Jersey , and he ’ s also rocked sold out crowds at Madison Square Garden in �ew �ork City , the Staples Center in Los Angeles , and around the world , too . When not spinning locally , he performs with Kool & the Gang �
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his dad is Robert “ Kool ” Bell , and Hakim often serves as deejay , hype man , rapper , producer and more for music superstars .
“ My uncle ( Kool & the Gang mem� ber Khalis Bayyan ) said we ’ d like you
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to come out and perform on ��ngle �oogie and �ele����ion �that ’ slike two of their biggest records ,” Hakim says . “ I ’ m a hype man , rapping , hyping up the crowd , and I went around the world with them . Igo out there and grab the mic , and Kool & the Gang are my backing band .”
R�IS�� IN � R��OR�ING ��N�S�� Born in Jersey City , Bell had an early entr�e into show business . “ Mom threw meand my brother ( Muhammad Bell ) onstage at talent shows as akid ,” he says . “ I watched what my dad did growing up , going on summer tours on the tour bus . Igrew up in the business , soit ’ sanatural progression for me to become aper� former , DJ , producer and songwriter .”
The Bells lived in �ewark , South Orange and West Orange . Jermaine Dupri , noted music man who worked with Janet Jackson , Jay�� , Mariah
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