Afrika Bambaataa, Hip-hop Pioneer And 'planet Rock' Rapper, Dies At 68

Afrika Bambaataa, nan influential rapper and DJ who helped style nan civilization of hip-hop via his legendary Zulu Nation artifact parties successful nan South Bronx, has died.

Also known for his electro-funk records including “Planet Rock” and “Looking for nan Perfect Beat,” nan musician — calved Lance Taylor — died Thursday “from complications of cancer,” according to TMZ. He was 68.

A Bronx autochthonal and erstwhile personnel of nan Black Spades gang, Bambaataa was astir known for establishing his activistic statement Universal Zulu Nation and hosting its artifact parties done nan precocious ‘70s, gatherings that helped elevate rap from a genre of euphony to a taste movement. The first Zulu Nation artifact statement was held successful 1977, group against a turbulent clip for New York City — 1 marked by a historical blackout and a bid of blazes crossed nan South Bronx. The celebrations welcomed graffiti artists, DJs, emcees and different thoroughfare performers, offering erstwhile pack members a affirmative outlet and laying nan groundwork for what would go nan 4 elements of hip-hop: deejaying, B-boy/girl dancing, emceeing and graffiti painting.

“Rap is astir nan gangs and nan killings that went connected until rap euphony and break-dancing helped extremity nan violence. It brought group together,” Bambaataa told The Times successful 1985.

Bambaataa, often named alongside DJ Kool Herc and Grandmaster Flash arsenic a laminitis of hip-hop, concerned himself pinch community-building aft a prize travel to Africa for an effort title successful 1974 shifted his worldview. He told nan Red Bull Music Academy successful 2017 that he was greatly inspired by “seeing Black group controlling their ain destiny, seeing them get up and spell to their ain work.” He returned home, his caller sanction a motion to a Zulu chief, pinch a caller hit to his work.

The sounds of Bambaataa’s South Bronx artifact parties soon reached mainstream avenues, spreading beyond nan organization and yet beyond New York. In 1982, Bambaataa launched into further fame pinch nan merchandise of “Planet Rock,” a Kraftwerk-inspired creation from him and Soulsonic Force, a group he co-founded. By 2006, he had released much than 20 albums, including compilations, and counted James Brown, Yellowman, John Lydon of nan Sex Pistols, Boy George and Bootsy Collins among his collaborators.

Bambaataa’s signaling profession tapered disconnected successful nan aughts, but he continued moving arsenic a DJ until his death. Bambaataa, a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominee, was appointed arsenic a three-year visiting clever clever astatine Cornell University successful 2012. Years later, he faced contention erstwhile aggregate men successful 2016 accused nan musician of intersexual assault. He denied nan allegations astatine nan time. Zulu Nation distanced itself from its laminitis arsenic nan allegations went nationalist but has since remained committed to its ngo of hip-hop unity.

Among nan accusers who went nationalist pinch their claims was Democratic Party organization advocator Ronald Savage, who alleged Bambaataa assaulted him erstwhile he was 14. Savage walked backmost his claims successful 2024, saying he met nan musician astatine a nine he had entered utilizing a clone ID.

An anonymous accuser raised further allegations of intersexual maltreatment and trafficking against Bambaataa successful 2021. That lawsuit ended past year successful favour of nan musician’s accuser aft Bambaataa grounded to look for a tribunal proceeding successful New York.