DJ Hurricane Net Worth – $3 million
What is DJ Hurricane’s net worth? Who is DJ Hurricane’s wife?
Introduction
DJ Hurricane might not be an instantly recognizable name, but the Queens native is arguably one of the most influential DJs of the 80s, 90s, and 2000s.
A renowned hip hop artist, he came up alongside iconic hip hop band Run DMC, and worked with popular mainstream hip hop success stories like Public Enemy, Faith Evans—the Notorious B.I.G.’s widow—and Kool G Gap.
He’s also had a hand in the 2008 hit fantasy drama, True Blood, and kids’ classic, Shrek Forever After.
Oh, and he’s got a daughter who followed him into showbiz. Here’s what else we know.
The Origin Story
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DJ Hurricane—whose real name is Wendell Timothy Fite—was born on January 12, 1965, in Queens, New York.
He was raised by his mom, and would later say that he got into trouble because he didn’t have a father around to raise him.
Coming up in an area like Queens, Fite was surrounded by hip hop culture—the music, the lifestyle, and the art. But there was a darker side to Queens’ culture that Wendell Fite embraced early on.
In an interview back in 1995, Fite confessed to some “crazy, crazy times growing up.”
He remembers drinking and walking around with a gun in his pocket, and generally getting into some “wild” situations.
Luckily, DJ Hurricane was able to navigate his way through those formative years and beat the odds to come out the other side—in a big way.
DJ Hurricane and Dawn Fite attend the “Growing Up Hip Hop Atlanta” New York Premiere at iPic Theater – @Getty
Wife & Children
As he rose to fame as a DJ alongside one of the biggest bands of the 80s, he met—and married—Dawn. DJ Hurricane and Dawn Fite and married for over three decades.
Dawn and Wendell welcomed their first baby, a daughter named Ayana Fite, on December 23, 1990.
Ayana was followed by Jennifer, then Jarell, and finally Quran.
DJ Hurricane and Ayana Fite attends “Growing Up Hip Hop Atlanta” season 2 premiere party at Woodruff Arts Center – @Getty
Ayana, who once worked in fashion retail at H & M, followed in her dad’s celebrity footsteps—but in a slightly different way.
Confessing that she was “spoilt” as a child, and got whatever she wanted, put her in the ideal position to star in the WE tv reality franchise, Growing Up Hip Hop.
Ayana starred in the Atlanta version—that’s where she lives.
The Afros
In 1990, DJ Hurricane and friends released Kickin’ Afrolistics as The Afros.
The group amassed mainstream attention—even appearing on Howard Stern’s talk show to promote their album.
1991 saw the creation of Grand Royal Records, and DJ Hurricane’s solo career.
Tara Davis and DJ Hurricane attend the premiere of “All Up In The Biz” – @Getty
The Rise to Stardom
DJ Hurricane’s career started out in the perfect example of “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know.”
Davy DMX—Hollis Queens’ first hip hop DJ—took the young Hurricane under his wing, inviting him to rap for the Solo Sounds crew at local block parties.
He also rapped at promotional events for Russell Simmons, and with the Hollis Crew.
One of Fite’s best friends throughout school was also Jam Master Jay—at that time an up and comer on the NYC hip hop scene.
Jam Master Jay scored a job as the DJ for Run DMC, and told Hurricane to come along on the band’s next tour.
While he didn’t DJ for the iconic band, it gave him a foot in the door when they teamed up with the Beastie Boys on the 1986 Raising Hell Tour.
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At the time, the Beastie Boys DJ was Doctor Dre—no, not Dr. Dre of NWA fame. Dre got left behind in a Florida hotel lobby and left the tour, giving DJ Hurricane the perfect opportunity to step up.
And step up he did. From 1986 until late 1997, Hurricane was firmly ensconced behind the turntables at every Beastie Boys concert worldwide.
His last official appearance for the biggest selling rap group since Billboard began was in 1997, at the Tibetan Freedom Concert II.
He’d appear with the group for the Atlanta, Georgia, leg of their Hello Nasty tour in 1998, before teaming up with some old friends to launch the next part of his career.
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Severe Damage
DJ Hurricane and wife attend Floyd Mayweather’s exclusive red carpet birthday bash at Gabriel South Beach – @Getty
In 1997, after his departure from the Beastie Boys, DJ Hurricane released his second full-length album—Severe Damage.
Away from the influence of the Beastie Boys—and with none of them making guest appearances—the album didn’t rate as highly as the earlier The Hurra.
It was back to the lab for Fite, who found success in 2000 with what was arguably his strongest album to date: Don’t Sleep.
With a plethora of guest artists, like Xzibit, Public Enemy, Rah Digga, Black Thought of the Roots, and Busta Rhymes’ Flipmode Squad, the album saw impressive Billboard success.
DJ Hurricane attends WE tv Celebrates The Return Of “Growing Up Hip Hop Atlanta” at Club Tongue & Groove – @Getty
DJ Hurricane – Net Worth
So, how much is DJ Hurricane worth? Fite earned most of his wealth from selling copies of his solo albums (Don’t Sleep, Severe Damage, and The Hurra), being a member of the groups The Afros and Solo Sounds, working with the Beastie Boys, and selling tickets to his concerts. Therefore, DJ Hurricane has an estimated net worth of $3 million.
In 2021, Fite and You42, Inc. to start a new Network featuring the best DJs in the world. “Collaborative spirit is the driving force behind this new Network,” he said.
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I am Bulgarea Candin Stefan, and I founded FamousPeopleToday.com in 2018. I’m using my bachelor’s degree in economics and 9 years of experience in blogging to guide millions of people through the incredibly complex world of celebrity net worths.