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Afrika Bambaataa, the founder of Soulsonic Force and a veteran DJ who's known as a pioneer in Hip-Hop, has died.
According to a report TMZ published on Thursday, April 9, the multifaceted artist passed away at around 3 a.m. this morning in Pennsylvania. A source claims Bambaataa, born Lance Taylor, succumbed to complications from cancer. He was 68. Afrika Bambaataa came up as a member of the Black Spades street gang in the late 1960s, who started hosting hip-hop parties in the '70s. Bambaataa entered the music industry after he dropped his first song, "Zulu Nation Throwdown," an anthem inspired by his Universal Zulu Nation, in 1980.
Bambaataa quickly became an icon as Hip-Hop gained traction in the 1980s. As Zulu Nation thrived on the five elements of Hip-Hop, Bambaataa garnered his own fame after launching groups, such as Jazzy 5 and the Soulsonic Force. In 1982, he struck gold with "Planet Rock," which not only became a hit in the streets and the clubs but also sparked an electro-funk era that inspired generations of artists. He followed up with other hits like "Looking for the Perfect Beat" and worked with legends like James Brown, Run D.M.C., George Clinton and more.
Afrika Bambaataa remained the face of Universal Zulu Nation until 2016. Bambaataa decided to step down from his position within the organization after he was accused of sexually abusing several young men and children. Several men came forward with allegations of sexual abuse when they were minors. Bamabaataa was never charged with any crimes. However, one anonymous man sued the artist in October 2021 for allegedly abusing him and trafficking him to other men in the 1990s. Bambaataa was forced to pay a settlement to the man in 2025 after he didn't show up in court.
Rest in peace, Afrika Bambaataa.