Afrika Bambaataa, the pioneering rapper and record producer behind hit tracks like “Planet Rock” who founded the Zulu Nation hip-hop organization and was later accused of multiple instances of sexual abuse of young men, died on Thursday. He was 67.
Born Lance Taylor, the rapper died from complications of cancer in Pennsylvania, according to TMZ.
The Hip-Hop Alliance, headed by Kurtis Blow, wrote on Instagram, “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…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.”
Taylor was born in the Bronx and released his first single in 1980 titled “Zulu Nation Throwdown,” as a reference to Universal Zulu Nation, an art collective he helped create for people involved in hip-hop culture.
In 1981, hip hop artist Fab Five Freddy invited Taylor to perform at the Mudd Club in Manhattan, which helped him rise in popularity, and he eventually performed at parties at large-scale venues such as the Ritz. Inspired by electronic music groups such as Kraftwerk, Taylor began incorporating technology into his on-stage performances and released his breakthrough track “Planet Rock” in 1982, which reached Number Four on the U.S. R&B charts and introduced the electro-funk genre.
Along with his band, The Soulsonic Force, Taylor made an appearance in the 1984 film “Beat Street,” performing the track “Frantic Situation.”
Taylor also helped produce the anti-apartheid album “Sun City” in 1985, which featured popular artists including Miles Davis, Bono, and U2, among others.
He collaborated with a wide range of artists, including John Lydon of the Sex Pistols on “World Destruction,” UB40 on “Reckless,” James Brown on “Unity,” Paul Oakenfold on a 2000 version of “Planet Rock” and with Leftfield on “Afrika Shox,” which was featured on the soundtrack to “Vanilla Sky.”
In May 2016, Bronx political activist Ronald Savage accused Taylor of molesting him in 1980, when Savage was 15. Following the allegations, three more men accused Taylor of sexual abuse.
The same month, the Universal Zulu Nation disassociated itself from Taylor 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 roles. Taylor resigned as head of the Universal Zulu Nation on May 6 and was forced to pay a settlement in 2025 to a man accusing him of sex trafficking him in the 1990s after a judge issued a default judgement after failing to show up to court.
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