Pioneering hip-hop artist Afrika Bambaataa has died. He was 68.
The rapper and DJ died at a hospital in Pennsylvania from complications due to cancer at around 3 a.m. Thursday, sources told TMZ.
Bambaataa was known for his impact on the electro genre as well as helping to found the hip-hop collective Universal Zulu Nation. Later in his life, he was accused of sexual abuse and trafficking.
Born in 1957 to Jamaican and Barbadian parents, Bambaataa — whose legal name was Lance Taylor — rose to fame in the New York City rap scene and regularly hosted block parties at his home in the Bronx neighborhood.
He released his first single in 1980, titled “Zulu Nation Throwdown,” and two years later, released his popular track “Planet Rock.” The electro tracks he produced throughout the eighties are considered to have helped to define the early days of the hip-hop movement.
Bambaataa stepped down as the head of Universal Zulu Nation in May 2016 after multiple child sexual abuse allegations against him emerged dating back to the seventies.
He denied the allegations in a statement at the time saying, “I never abused nobody. You know, it just sounds crazy for people to say that, to hear: ‘You abused me.’ You know all my people back then, you know the hundreds of people that been around me. If something like that happened, why you never went to none of them?”
After the initial claim in 2016, at least 12 different men came forward with allegations against Bambaataa. No criminal charges were ever brought against him.
In 2021, an anonymous man sued Bambaataa and alleged that in the early nineties, the rapper sexually abused and trafficked him for four years, according to court documents.
Bambaataa lost the civil case after failing to show up in court, The Guardian reported last year. He never commented publicly on the lawsuit, and was forced to pay out a settlement to the man.
The Hip-Hop Alliance, headed by rapper Kurtis Blow, said in a statement shared on social media Thursday: “Today, we acknowledge the transition of a foundational architect of Hip Hop culture, Afrika Bambaataa. As the founder of the Universal Zulu Nation, Afrika Bambaataa helped shape the early identity of Hip Hop as a global movement rooted in peace, unity, love, and having fun.”
The statement continued: “At the same time, we recognize that his legacy is complex and has been the subject of serious conversations within our community. As an organization committed to truth, accountability, and the preservation of Hip Hop culture, we believe it is important to hold space for all voices while continuing to uplift what empowers and protects the people.
“Today, we extend our condolences to all who were impacted by his life, his work, and his presence,” the message concluded. “Hip Hop was built on truth, and through truth the culture continues to grow, heal, and evolve.”
Rape Crisis offers support for those affected by rape and sexual abuse. You can call them on 0808 802 9999 in England and Wales, 0808 801 0302 in Scotland, and 0800 0246 991 in Northern Ireland, or visit their website at www.rapecrisis.org.uk. If you are in the US, you can call Rainn on 800-656-HOPE (4673)
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