The Bronx born rapper’s global hit Planet Rock is credited with shaping hip-hop in the 1980s.
Afrika Bambaataa, one of the founding figures of hip-hop culture, has died at the age of 67, the Hip Hop Alliance has confirmed.
In a statement, the organization said Bambaataa helped shape a “global movement rooted in peace, unity, love, and having fun”, paying tribute to his role in the emergence of hip-hop as both a musical genre and a cultural force.
Born Lance Taylor in the Bronx, Bambaataa grew up during the era of the black liberation movement. In 1973, he co-founded the Universal Zulu Nation, an international hip‑hop awareness group.
In his later years, Bambaataa’s reputation was overshadowed by allegations of child sexual abuse and trafficking, which he denied.
TMZ, which was first to report his death, said the artist died in Pennsylvania due to complications from cancer on Thursday.
Bambaataa was born to Jamaican and Barbadian immigrant parents.
As a teen, he became a member of the Black Spades gang, parlaying his leadership abilities to form the Universal Zulu Nation, that sought to channel youth culture away from violence and towards creativity.
His 1982 hit Planet Rock, won him global recognition and is credited with shaping hip-hop in the 1980s.
