Afrika Bambaataa & The Soulsonic Force

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Afrika Bambaataa & The Soulsonic Force · Afrika Bambaataa, born Lance Taylor in 1957 in the Bronx, was an American DJ, rapper and producer. He grew up in the Bronx River Projects and became a member of the street gang the Black Spades. After a trip to Africa, which he won in an essay competition, he took his name from a Zulu leader and built up the Universal Zulu Nation, an organisation centred on music and culture that was meant to get young people off the street. He held parties in the South Bronx and was known as the Master of Records.

Music and breakthrough

Within that movement he formed rap groups, among them Soulsonic Force. In 1982 he released Planet Rock with them, together with producer Arthur Baker. The record blended drum machines and synthesizers with funk and hip hop, and used a synthesizer line from Kraftwerk's Trans-Europe Express. Planet Rock became a big hit in the clubs and went gold. It set off a whole current of electro, in which rap and electronics go together. Bambaataa named Kraftwerk and Yellow Magic Orchestra as sources of inspiration and gave up live bands on stage.

Influence

His role in the history of hip hop is great, but not uncontroversial. In 2016 he stepped down as leader of the Universal Zulu Nation following accusations of sexual abuse of minors. The music of Planet Rock shows how hip hop began to look to the future.

Listening