Tag Archives: Afrika Bambaataa

Today In Hip Hop History: Cult Classic ‘Beat Street’ Premiered In Theaters 40 Years Ago

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On this day in Hip-Hop history, one of the most important films for Hip Hop culture was released in theaters around the globe. The Stan Lathan-directed Beat Street was a film that was able to help Hip Hop culture as a whole breakthrough into the mainstream market and showed a side of the scene that those outside of New York might not have ever heard about.

The plot follows Kenny Kirkland aka DJ Double K, a young man aspiring to be one of New York’s top DJs. Through performances, trials, and tribulations, Kenny is able to grow as a DJ and reach his goal of performing at the famous Roxy club in New York. This film’s narrative of perseverance and struggle to achieve your dreams inspired a generation to grow into many of the artists who have become prominent figures in Hip Hop today.

The film includes many of Hip Hop’s pioneering acts and personalities including Afrika Bambaataa and The Soul Sonic Force, The Treacherous Three(including Kool Moe Dee), the Rock Steady Crew, the New York City Breakers, Doug E. Fresh and many more of the culture’s major influencers of that era.

The film’s commercial success stretched past the boundaries of this country to influence the cultures across the planet. Grossing $16,595,791 in the box office, this film was just as big a hit in Europe as it was in the United States, specifically in Germany. It is said that this film single-handedly sparked the boom of Hip Hop culture in both West Germany in a time when the East and West were still separated. The film also helped the spread of graffiti culture in Across East and West Germany along with the United States.

Mentioned in songs by Jay Electronica, The Notorious B.I.G., AZ, and Ras Kass, it’s obvious that this picture transcended generations to inspire rap music at every tier. If you have not already, make sure you watch and see what for yourself what it was that inspired so many to take this genre that is so loved from an inner-city fad to an international cultural craze.

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Afrika Bambaataa’s Ties to Universal Hip-Hop Museum Sparks Protest

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Hip Hop co-founder Afrika Bambaataa and his role as the co-founder of the Unversal Hip Hop Museum has sparked some controversy, with an advocacy group demanding the defunding of the recently built museum because of the Hip Hop pioneer’s sexual abuse allegations.

This week, a group called Hip Hop Stands With Survivors put out a letter calling NYC Mayor Eric Adams to halt all taxpayer funding that has been funneled into the UHHM, as well as fire the organization’s Executive Director Rocky Bucano. The letter also calls for all companies such as Microsoft to end their financial relationship with the UHHM.

The letter says, “We expect his resignation or for the board to vote him out of the museum’s leadership and for the museum to sever all ties with Bucano, Bambaataa, and the Zulu Nation.”

n 2019, the State of New York donated a $3.5million grant to the museum. It’s scheduled to open some time in 2023 or 2024 in celebration of Hip Hop’s 50th anniversary.

The protest has been taken to the streets, with an immediate response coming from Mayor Adams.

“The Universal Hip Hop Museum assured the administration that they cut ties with the Universal Zulu Nation and that Afrika Bambaataa has not had a role at the Universal Hip Hop Museum since 2016,” Adams said in a statement.

Executive Director Bucano also released a statement, denying that Bambaataa was ever a board member of the museum and that he was never a member of the Zulu Nation.

His statement says, “The Universal Hip Hop Museum and Mr. Bucano condemn all acts of acts of violence and abuse. I would like to make it clear that Afrika Bambaataa has not had a role at the Universal Hip Hop Museum since 2016. I and the Universal Hip Hop Museum are not party to any activities affiliated with the Universal Zulu Nation I affirm that the Universal Hip Hop Museum is committed to its mission to empower, educate, and uplift communities.” It goes on saying, “While it is true that Afrika Bambaataa was a founding member of the museum, he was removed from any involvement with the museum as soon as the allegations surfaced. He has never been a board member, advisory board member or volunteer. I have never been a member of the Universal Zulu Nation nor am I an agent of the organization or Afrika Bambaataa. The assertion that UHHM is a financial front for the Universal Zulu Nation, Afrika Bambaataa, or other Universal Zulu Nation members, is irresponsible, false, and misdirected.”

Bambaataa was hit with several sexual abuse allegations going back to the 1970s, but has maintained his innocence.

His attorney, Vivian K. Tozaki, issued a statement in 2016 saying, “Recently, defamatory statements were published seeking to harm my client’s reputation so as to lower him in the estimation of the community while deterring others from associating or dealing with him. The statements show a reckless disregard for the truth, were published with knowledge of their falsity, and are being made by a lesser-known person seeking publicity. Valuable cultural resources, such as Afrika Bambaataa’s good name and time, should never be used to assist a mediocre person’s asinine quest for social media popularity and superficial gain.”

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Afrika Bambaataa And Zulu Nation Sued For Sex Trafficking Of 12-Year-Old Boy

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According to a confirmed report from Chicago’s Metropolis Newspaper, Afrika Bambaataa and the Zulu Nation are being sued for allegedly prostituting and sex trafficking a 12-year-old boy to older men over the course of four years.

The victim, who is only being identified as John Doe, accused Bambaataa, the founder and former leader of the legendary Zulu Nation, of sexually abusing him after inviting him to his apartment to work out back in the early 90s. Doe claims that Bambaataa, whose real name is Lance Taylor, would touch his shoulders, biceps and abdomen before eventually touching Doe’s genitals. Doe alleges that this abuse continued for years and even claims that he was forced to have sex with johns in the Zulu Nation’s Headquarters and Bambaataa’s apartment.

The Zulu Nation released a statement, saying, “Nothing has changed since 2016 when these decades ago accusations first surfaced. This is a personal matter for Afrika Bambaataa and his lawyers to deal with and has absolutely nothing to do with the 10 year long UZN-DOCA mission, programs and projects which continue in the revolutionary legacy of both The Black Panther Party & The Young Lords Party to ‘Serve The People, Body & Soul.’”

Back in 2016, similar claims were made against Bambaataa when a man claimed that when he was 15 years old, Bambaataa sexually abused him, which was quickly followed up by claims from three more men. The AZN forced Bambaataa to step down from his leadership role following the 2016 accusatons.

Bambaataa has been accused of assault, civil battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligent infliction of emotional distress, and gross negligence.

TheSOurce.com will update this story as more details develop.

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Today in Hip-Hop History: Afrika Bambaataa and The Soulsonic Force Dropped ‘Planet Rock: The Album’ 34 Years Ago

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On this day in 1986, founder and leader of the Almighty Zulu Nation Afrika Bambaataa and the Soulsonic Force released Planet Rock: The Album on Tommy Boy Records. The LP was a collection of seven songs recorded by the group, with the main single being the group’s most recognizable hit, “Planet Rock.”

Members of the international music pioneers Kraftwerks as well as contributions from rap legend Melle Mel and go-go music icons Trouble Funk added on to the eclecticism of this project. Kraftwerks’ “Trans-Europe Express” and “Numbers” were sampled, or interpolated as it was done on analog, for the lead single and title track, which was recorded and released four years before the album dropped.

Salute to Afrika Bambaataa and the entire Soulsonic Force for this classic piece that will forever be a part of Hip Hop history!

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