Afrika Bambaataa

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Afrika Bambaataa
Afrika Bambaataa in April 2009
Afrika Bambaataa in April 2009
Background information
Birth nameLance Taylor
Born (1957-04-17) April 17, 1957 (age 66)
OriginNew York City, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • DJ
  • producer
  • rapper
Years active1977–2013
Labels

Lance Taylor (born on April 17, 1957), also known as Afrika Bambaataa (

DJ, rapper, and producer from the South Bronx, New York.[4][3] He is notable for releasing a series of genre-defining electro tracks in the 1980s that influenced the development of hip hop culture.[5] Afrika Bambaataa is one of the originators of breakbeat DJing.[1]

Through his co-opting of the street gang the Black Spades into the music and culture-oriented Universal Zulu Nation, he has helped spread hip hop culture throughout the world.[6] In May 2016, Bambaataa left his position as head of the Universal Zulu Nation due to multiple allegations of child sexual abuse dating as far back as the 1970s.[7]

Early life

Born Lance Taylor to

Gangs in the area became the law, clearing their turf of drug dealers, assisting with community health programs and both fighting and partying to keep members and turf.[5]

Bambaataa was a member of the Black Spades. He quickly rose to the position of "warlord" in one of the divisions. As warlord, it was his job to build ranks and expand the turf of the young Spades. He was not afraid to cross turfs to forge relationships with other gangs, and their members. As a result, the Spades became the biggest gang in the city in terms of both membership and turf.[5]

After Bambaataa won an essay contest that earned him a trip to Africa, his worldview shifted.[9] He had seen the movie Zulu and was impressed with the solidarity exhibited by the Zulu in that film. During his trip to Africa, the communities he visited inspired him to create one in his own neighborhood.[5] He changed his name to Afrika Bambaataa Aasim, adopting the name of the Zulu chief Bhambatha, who led an armed rebellion against unfair economic practices in early 20th-century South Africa. He told people that his name was Zulu for "affectionate leader".[5] Bambaataa formed The "Bronx River Organization" as an alternative to the Black Spades.[5]

Career

Due to the oft nebulous timeline of hip-hop origins, there are conflicting accounts of when Bambaataa began hosting parties. Some suggest he began as early as 1970, predating noted "father of hip hop" Kool Herc,[10] while others contend he began after Herc in 1976, in fact, attending and drawing inspiration from Kool Herc parties.[11] He vowed to use hip-hop to draw angry kids out of gangs and form the Universal Zulu Nation.[12]

Inspired by hip-hop icons like DJ Kool Herc, Bambaataa began hosting block parties throughout the South Bronx, including at the Bronx River Organization. Bambaataa engaged primarily as a hip-hop artist. Due to his ties to organized crime, much of his early fan base was centered around the hip-hop movement[citation needed], as Bambaataa established numerous rap groups including the “Jazzy 5” and the “Soulsonic Force”, which featured many artists that had overlapped with the Universal Zulu Nation.[13]

In 1982, Bambaataa began playing "authentically" electronic music in the form of EBN-OZN’s “AEIOU Sometimes Y”, which was the first ever commercially released American single made on a computer, namely the Fairlight CMI.[14] Inspired by techno groups such as Kraftwerk, Bambaataa began to realize the potential for technological advancement in music making, deciding to stop performing with a live band and instead only relying on technology on stage. That same year, Bambaataa released his breakthrough electro-funk track in the form of “Planet Rock”, which featured Bambaataa, producer Arthur Baker and the Soulsonic Force. This groundbreaking single, featuring the iconic line “party people, can you feel it?,” seamlessly blended electronic sounds, drum machines, and futuristic synthesizers with traditional funk and hip-hop elements. Featuring a synth hook from Kraftwerk’s “Trans-Europe Express”, as well as electronic drum patterns from their track “Numbers,” Bambaataa’s “Planet Rock” not only became a massive commercial hit in clubs and dance floors everywhere, but also set the stage for the emergence of electro-funk as a distinct genre.[15]

Robert Keith Wiggins, a.k.a. "Cowboy" of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, is credited with naming hip-hop. The term became a common phrase used by MCs as part of a scat-inspired style of rhyming.[16] The term was first used in print to refer to the music by reporter Robert Flipping, Jr. in a February 1979 article in the New Pittsburgh Courier,[17] and to refer to the culture in a January 1982 interview of Afrika Bambaataa by Michael Holman in the East Village Eye.[18] The term gained further currency in September of that year in another Bambaataa interview in The Village Voice,[19] by Steven Hager.

In 1982, Bambaataa and his followers – a group of dancers, artists, and DJs – went outside the United States on the first hip-hop tour.[5] He saw that the hip hop tours would be the key to help expand hip hop and his Universal Zulu Nation. In addition it would help promote the values of hip hop that he believed are based on peace, unity, love, and having fun. He brought peace to the gangs; many artists and gang members say that "hip hop saved a lot of lives".[12] His influence inspired many overseas artists like the French rapper MC Solaar.[12]

He was a popular DJ in the South Bronx rap scene and became known not only as Afrika Bambaataa but also as the "Master of Records".

Jazzy 5 including MCs Master Ice, Mr. Freeze, Master Bee, Master D.E.E, and AJ Les, and the second crew referred to as Soulsonic Force including Mr. Biggs, Pow Wow and Emcee G.L.O.B.E.[21]

In 1982, Bambaataa, who was inspired by

EBN-OZN's ground breaking, 12-inch white rap/spoken word "AEIOU Sometimes Y". It was the first commercially released American single ever made on a computer, a Fairlight CMI, ushering in the era of music computer sampling.[22] In that same year, Bambaataa and Soulsonic Force stopped performing with a live band, and began to use only technology. Bambaataa credited the pioneering Japanese electropop group Yellow Magic Orchestra, whose work he sampled, as an inspiration.[23][24]

He also borrowed a keyboard hook from German

Arthur Baker and synthesizer player John Robie. That resulted in "Planet Rock", which went to gold status and generated an entire school of "electro-boogie" rap and dance music. Bambaataa formed his own label to release the Time Zone Compilation. He created "turntablism" as its own subgenre and the ratification of "electronica" as an industry-certified trend in the late 1990s.[25]

Birth of the Zulu Nation

In the late 1970s, Bambaataa formed what became known as the Universal Zulu Nation, a group of socially and politically aware rappers,

DJ Dee, and after Disco King Mario loaned him his first equipment, Bambaataa began organizing block parties all around The South Bronx. He even faced his long-time friend, Disco King Mario in a DJ battle. He then began performing at Adlai E. Stevenson High School and formed the Bronx River Organization, then later simply "The Organization".[26]

Bambaataa had deejayed with his own sound system at The Bronx River Houses' Community Center, with Mr. Biggs, Queen Kenya, and Cowboy, who accompanied him in performances in the community. Because of his prior status in the Black Spades, he already had an established Army party crowd drawn from former members of the gang. Hip hop culture was spreading through the streets via house parties, block parties, gym dances and mix tapes.[26]

About a year later Bambaataa reformed the group, calling it the Zulu Nation (inspired by his wide studies on African history at the time). Specifically, Bambaataa watched the 1964 film

b-girls
, graffiti writers, and artists followed him, and he took them under his wing and made them all members of his Zulu Nation.

He was also the founder of the

Raheim
. The personnel for the Soulsonic Force were groups within groups with whom he would perform and make records.

In 1980, Bambaataa's groups made Death Mix, their first recording with

Paul Winley Records. According to Bambaata, this was an unauthorized release.[5] Winley recorded two versions of Soulsonic Force's landmark single, "Zulu Nation Throwdown", with authorization from the musicians. Disappointed with the results of the single, Bambaataa left the company. The arranger credit on these recordings is correctly attributed to Harlem Underground Band leader, Kevin Donovan. This led to the false assumption that Bambaataa's real name was Kevin Donovan, which was widely accepted by the hip hop community until recently, following sexual abuse allegations, when Bronx River residents spoke out and revealed in oral testimonies that Bambaataa's real name was in fact Lance Taylor.[27]

The Zulu Nation was the first hip-hop organization, with an official birth date of November 12, 1977. Bambaataa's plan with the Universal Zulu Nation was to build a movement out of the creativity of a new generation of outcast youths with an authentic, liberating worldview.[5]

Recognition

Afrika Bambaataa (left) in 2004

In 1981, hip hop artist

Roxy.[12]

"

electro funk
.

Afrika Bambaataa was booked on the first ever European hip hop tour presented by Europe One and Fnac France.

Bambaataa's second release around 1983 was "

Time Zone, and he recorded a collaboration with punk rocker John Lydon and Time Zone in 1984, titled "World Destruction". Shango's album, Shango Funk Theology, was released by the label in 1984.[32]

In 1984, Bambaataa and other hip hop celebrities appeared in the movie Beat Street. He also made a landmark recording with James Brown, titled "Unity". It was billed in music industry circles as "the Godfather of Soul meets the Godfather of Hip Hop".[32]

Around October 1985, Bambaataa and other music stars worked on the anti-

Run–D.M.C., Lou Reed, U2, and others. During 1988, he recorded "Afrika Bambaataa and Family" for Capitol Records, titled The Light, featuring Nona Hendryx, UB40, Boy George, George Clinton, Bootsy Collins, and Yellowman. He had recorded a few other works with Family three years earlier, one titled "Funk You" in 1985, and the other titled "Beware (The Funk Is Everywhere)" in 1986. In 1986 he discovered an artist in Atlanta. (Through MC SHY D) by the name of Kenya Miler a.k.a. MC Harmony (Known producer now as Kenya Fame Flames Miller), that was later signed to Criminal Records and Arthur Baker.[26]

The group was Harmony and LG. The first single, 1987's "Dance To The Drums/No Joke", was produced by Bambaataa and Baker with musicians Keith LeBlanc and Doug Wimbish. Bambaataa was involved in the Stop the Violence Movement, and with other hip hop artists recorded "Self Destruction", a 12" single which hit number one on the Hot Rap Singles Chart in March 1989. The single went gold and raised $400,000 for the National Urban League to be used for community anti-violence education programs.[26]

In 1990, Bambaataa made Life magazine's "Most Important Americans of the 20th Century" issue.[citation needed]

Gee Street Records, Bambaataa and John Baker organized a concert at

Winnie Mandela and the ANC to hip hop audiences. In relation to the event, the recording Ndodemnyama (Free South Africa) helped raise approximately $30,000 for the ANC.[33]

From the mid-1990s, Bambaataa returned to his electro roots. In 1998, he produced a remix of "Planet Rock" combining electro and house music elements, called "Planet Rock '98", which is regarded as an early example of the electro house genre.[34] In 2000, Rage Against the Machine covered his song "Renegades of Funk" for their album, Renegades. The same year, he collaborated with Leftfield on the song "Afrika Shox", the first single from Leftfield's Rhythm and Stealth. "Afrika Shox" also appeared on the soundtrack to Vanilla Sky.

In 2004, he collaborated with

Mekon's album Some Thing Came Up, on the track "D-Funktional". He performed the lyrics on the track "Is There Anybody Out There" by the Bassheads.[35] As an actor, he has played a variety of voice-over character roles on Kung Faux
.

Bambaataa was a judge for the 6th annual Independent Music Awards to support independent artists' careers.[36] On September 27, 2007, it was announced that Afrika Bambaataa was one of the nine nominees for the 2008 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductions.[37] On December 22, 2007, he made a surprise appearance performing at the First Annual Tribute Fit For the King of King Records, Mr. Dynamite James Brown in Covington, Kentucky.[38]

On August 14, 2012, Bambaataa was given a three-year appointment as a visiting scholar at Cornell University.[39] The appointment was made in collaboration between Cornell University Library's Hip Hop Collection, the largest collection of historical hip hop music in North America, and the university's department of Music.[40] His archives, including his vinyl collection, original audio and video recordings, manuscripts, books, and papers arrived at the Cornell University Hip Hop Collection in December 2013.

Child sexual abuse allegations

In April 2016, Bronx political activist

Ronald "Bee-Stinger" Savage accused Bambaataa of molesting him in 1980, when Savage was 15.[41] Following Savage's allegations, three more men accused Bambaataa of sexual abuse.[42] Bambaataa issued a statement to Rolling Stone denying the allegations.[43] In early May 2016, the Universal Zulu Nation disassociated themselves from Bambaataa as part of an organizational restructuring that saw the group removing "all accused parties and those accused of covering up the current allegations of child molestation" from their current roles in the organization.[44]

On May 6 that year, Bambaataa left his position as head of The Zulu Nation.[45] Then, a month later, The Universal Zulu Nation issued an open letter apologizing to the people alleging Bambaataa had sexually abused them while expressing responsibility for the organization's "poor response".[46] The letter was signed by nearly three dozen members of the Zulu Nation, including leaders from as far as New Zealand.[47]

In October 2016, Vice published an investigative article titled "Afrika Bambaataa Allegedly Molested Young Men For Decades" and reported stories from the alleged victims and witnesses. The article stated the accusers "claim that these accounts of alleged abuse have been common knowledge in the Bronx River community and beyond since the early 1980s, including among many of Bambaataa's closest friends and Zulu soldiers."[48] In a March 2021 interview, Melle Mel said "everyone knew" about the accusations, calling it "hip hop's best kept secret" but would not respond when asked if he knew specifically.[49]

No charges have been brought against Afrika Bambaataa to date.[50] In October 2021 Bambaataa was sued by an anonymous man who alleged that between 1991 and 1995 Bambaataa engaged in repeated sexual abuse with him when he was a minor and also sex trafficked him to other adult men.[51][52]

Discography

Albums

Year Album Label
1983 Death Mix
Paul Winley Records
1985 Sun City Manhattan/EMI
1986 Planet Rock: The Album Tommy Boy/Warner Bros. Records
Beware (The Funk Is Everywhere) Tommy Boy/Warner Bros. Records
1987 Death Mix Throwdown Blatant
1988 The Light EMI America Records
1991 The Decade of Darkness EMI Records
1992 Don't Stop... Planet Rock (The Remix EP) Tommy Boy/Warner Bros. Records
1996 Jazzin (Khayan album) ZYX Music
Lost Generation Hottie
Warlocks and Witches, Computer Chips, Microchips and You Profile/Arista/BMG Records
1997 Zulu Groove (compilation) Hudson Vandam
1999 Electro Funk Breakdown DMC
Return to Planet Rock Berger Music
2000 Hydraulic Funk Strictly Hype
Theme of the United Nations w/ DJ Yutaka Avex Trax
2003 Electro Funk Breakdown (compilation) DMX
Looking for the Perfect Beat: 1980–1985 (compilation) Tommy Boy/Rhino/Atlantic Records
2004 Dark Matter Moving at the Speed of Light Tommy Boy Entertainment
2005 Metal Tommy Boy Entertainment
Metal Remixes Tommy Boy Entertainment
2006 Death Mix "2" Paul Winley Records

Singles

Year Title Peak chart positions Label
US Pop
[53]
US R&B
[53]
US Dance
[53]
UK
[54]
1980 "Zulu Nation Throwdown" Winley Records
1981 "Jazzy Sensation"
Warner Bros. Records
1982 "Planet Rock" 48 4 3 53 Tommy Boy/Warner Bros. Records
"Looking for the Perfect Beat" 36 18 86 Tommy Boy/Warner Bros. Records
1983 "Renegades of Funk" 26 30 Tommy Boy/Warner Bros. Records
"Wildstyle" Celluloid Records
1984 "Unity" (with James Brown) 87 49 Tommy Boy/Warner Bros. Records
"Frantic Situation" (with Shango) 89 Atlantic Records
"World Destruction" (with John Lydon) Celluloid Records
1986 "Bambaataa's Theme" 70 25 Tommy Boy/Warner Bros. Records
1988 "Reckless" (with UB40) 35 17 EMI
1990 "Just Get up and Dance" 4 45 EMI
1991 "Is There Anybody Out There?" (with Bassheads) 5[35]
1993 "Zulu War Chant" Profile/Arista/BMG Records
"What's the Name of this Nation?...Zulu" Profile/Arista/BMG Records
"Feeling Irie" DFC
1994 "Pupunanny" 78 DFC
"Feel the Vibe" (with Khayan)
1998 "Agharta – The City of Shamballa" (with WestBam) 92 Low Spirit Recordings
"Got to Get Up" (vs. Carpe Diem) 22
1999 "Afrika Shox" (with Leftfield) 7
2001 "Planet Rock" (with Paul Oakenfold) 47
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

See also

References

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  3. ^ a b "Afrika Bambaataa [Aasim, Kevin Donovan]". Oxford Music Online. Archived from the original on March 9, 2014. Retrieved September 7, 2016.
  4. .
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  6. ^ "Afrika Bambaataa". zulunation.com. Universal Zulu Nation. Archived from the original on July 7, 2013. Retrieved August 8, 2013.
  7. ^ Willis, Kiersten (May 9, 2016). "Afrika Bambaataa Steps Down as Zulu Nation Leader Amid Reports of Child Sexual Assault". Atlanta Black Star. Archived from the original on May 4, 2019. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  8. .
  9. ^ Knopper, Steve (May 5, 2011). "Afrika Bambaataa: Crate-digger, collector, creator". Chicago Tribune. Chicago, Illinois: Tribune Publishing. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
  10. .
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    . pp. 58–65.
  13. ^ Gardner, Eriq (February 12, 2016). "Africa Bambaataa and Soulsonic Force Seek to Reclaim 'Planet Rock' from Record Label". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  14. S2CID 162937679
    .
  15. ^ Chang, Jeff (December 18, 2023). "It's a Hip-Hop World". Foreign Policy. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  16. .
  17. ^ Flipping, Robert Jr. (February 24, 1979). "If You Funk Us, We'll Funk You". New Pittsburgh Courier.
  18. ^ Holman, Michael (January 1982). "An interview with DJ Africa Bambaata of the Zulu Nation". East Village Eye. p. 22.
  19. ^ Hager, Steven (September 21, 1982). "Afrika Bambaataa's Hip Hop". The Village Voice. p. 69.
  20. ^ .
  21. ^ Gardner, Eriq (February 12, 2016). "Africa Bambaataa and Soulsonic Force Seek to Reclaim 'Planet Rock' from Record Label". The Hollywood Reporter. Los Angeles, California: Eldridge Industries. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  22. S2CID 162937679
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  23. ^ Lewis, John (July 4, 2008). "Back to the future: Yellow Magic Orchestra helped usher in electronica – and they may just have invented hip-hop, too". The Guardian. London, England. Retrieved May 25, 2011.
  24. ^ "The Wire, Volumes 143-148". The Wire. 1996. p. 21. Retrieved May 25, 2011.
  25. ^ Hyman, Eve (April 29, 2013). "Afrika Bambaataa is hip-hop". Metro. London, England: DMG Media. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  26. ^ .
  27. ^ "Video". YouTube. Archived from the original on April 22, 2018. Retrieved August 25, 2017.
  28. ^ Hager, Steven (September 21, 1982). "Afrika Bambaataa's Hip-Hop". The Village Voice. New York City.
  29. ^ "The Beat Box Bites Back". Face Magazine. Global Darkness. 1984. Retrieved August 10, 2013.
  30. Cold Crush Brothers
    , Double-Dutch Girls, and Fab 5 Freddy. This tour traveled to Europe, which spread hip-hop culture to many countries.
  31. ^ a b Dracoulis, Nicola (March 29, 2010). "Ready your ropes: Pick up your feet". Holy Roller Productions. Retrieved July 9, 2013. the Double Dutch crew who traveled with Fab 5 Freddy, Rammellzee, Afrika Bambaataa, Rock Steady Crew, Phase 2, Futura and Dondi to Europe for 1982 The Roxy Tour (also known as The New York City Rap tour) in the first ever international hip hop tour.
  32. ^ a b Leeds, Alan; Weinger, Harry (1991). Star Time: Song by Song (CD booklet). James Brown, Afrika Bambaataa. New York City: PolyGram Records. pp. 46–53.
  33. ^ Cook, Davey 'D.' (December 1991). "On The Line With....Africa Bambaataa". daveyd.com. KMEL Beat Report. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
  34. ^ "Electro House". EurodanceHits.com. Polystar. Archived from the original on December 6, 1998. Retrieved June 5, 2012.
  35. ^ a b "BASSHEADS | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com.
  36. ^ "Past Judges of the Independent Music Awards". Archived from the original on July 13, 2011.
  37. ^ "The 2008 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nominees". Future Rock Hall. September 27, 2007. Archived from the original on December 13, 2007. Retrieved September 28, 2007.
  38. ^ "Freekbass, Buckethead and Chuck D Pay Tribute to James Brown with Bootsy Collins". Jambands.com. December 26, 2007.
  39. ^ "Afrika Bambaataa Named Visiting Professor at Cornell". Rolling Stone. New York City: Wenner Media Ltd. August 14, 2012. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  40. ^ Opening the Afrika Bambaataa Master of Records Vinyl Archive at Cornell University. Retrieved August 10, 2013.
  41. Tronc
    . Retrieved May 15, 2016.
  42. Vibe Magazine. Los Angeles, California: Eldridge Industries
    . Retrieved May 15, 2016.
  43. ^ Platon, Adele (April 13, 2016). "Afrika Bambaataa Calls Sexual Abuse Allegations 'A Cowardly Attempt to Tarnish My Reputation'". Billboard. Los Angeles, California: Eldridge Industries. Retrieved May 15, 2016.
  44. ^ Kreps, Daniel (June 1, 2016). "Zulu Nation Apologizes to Alleged Afrika Bambaataa Abuse Victims". Rolling Stone. New York City: Wenner Media, LLC. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  45. ^ Willis, Kiersten (May 9, 2016). "Afrika Bambaataa Steps Down as Zulu Nation Leader Amid Reports of Child Sexual Assault". Atlanta Black Star. Retrieved May 15, 2016.
  46. ^ Ivey, Justin (May 31, 2016). "Zulu Nation Releases Letter Apologizing to Victims accusing Afrika Bambaataa of Sexual Abuse". XXL. New York City: Townsquare Media. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  47. ^ Josephs, Brian (June 1, 2016). "Zulu Nation Apologizes to Afrika Bambaataa's Alleged Molestation Victims". Spin. Los Angeles, California: SPINMedia. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  48. ^ Wedge, Dave (October 16, 2016). "Afrika Bambaataa Allegedly Molested Young Men For Decades. Why Are the Accusations Only Coming out Now?". Vice. New York City: Vice Media. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  49. ^ "Melle Mel: Everyone Knew about Afrika Bambaataa Accusations, Hip Hop's Best Kept Secret (Part 3)". YouTube. Archived from the original on November 17, 2021. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  50. ^ Caplan-Bricker, Nora (April 19, 2016). "How the Afrika Bambaataa Allegations Could Help Change Child Sex Abuse Laws". Slate. New York City: The Slate Group.
  51. ^ "Afrika Bambaataa sued for alleged child sexual abuse". The Guardian. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  52. ^ Howard, Brooke Leigh (September 9, 2021). "Hip-Hop Legend Afrika Bambaataa Sex Trafficked 12-Year-Old Boy: Lawsuit". The Daily Beast. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  53. ^ a b c "Afrika Bambaataa - Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on November 22, 2012. Retrieved March 5, 2022.
  54. ^ "AFRIKA BAMBAATAA - full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 28, 2022.

External links