Apr 11, 2026
3 min read
The famous "Planet Rock" musician who made him famous in 1982 saw his career decline in recent years amid allegations of sexual assault.
Afrika Bambaataa, the pioneer of hip hop culture, will die at 67 years old
The musician, whose influential hit 'Planet Rock' catapulted him to prominence in 1982, has seen his career tarnished in recent years by allegations of sexual violence.
Hip-hop pioneer Afrika Bambaataa died of prostate cancer in Pennsylvania on Thursday at the age of 67, his lawyer said.Bambaataa, real name Lance Taylor, Kool Herk and Grandmaster Flash, known as hip-hop's holy trinity, were among the pioneers of the genre.His song Planet Rock, composed in 1982 and inspired by the music of German band Kraftwerk, is one of the genre's most influential works due to its bold blend of electronica and hip-hop.Electronic groups such as Missy Elliott, Kendrick Lamar and Leftfield have echoed the song's influence on them and its importance in the development of their careers.In his book Hip Hop is History (2024), black music reference and The Roots leader Questlove wrote: "That 12-inch record, Planet Rock, made my life happy. Bambaataa's career has been tarnished in recent years by many men accusing him of childhood sexual abuse.
Rapper and producer Curtis Walker wrote on the social network about the legacy of the deceased: "He helped to see the identity of the first hip hop as a global movement based on peace, unity, love and fun. In 1970, Bambaataa founded the Universal Zulu Nation, an organization that, according to his words, focused on "promoting peace and unity" and opened offices in many countries that organizeparty with different artists.
The personality of Bambaataa (born in the Bronx, New York) was the product of a tumultuous time on the streets dominated by racism, crime, shootings and unemployment.Originally from the Caribbean, he was raised by his mother in a public housing complex.In that small apartment she found music for her mother's record collection: Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Earth, Wind & Fire, George Clinton... emulating her mother's dressing style with brightly colored suits, an Asian and space aesthetic, and fancy glasses.
Devoted to crime and active in street gangs, he turned himself in when he found encouragement when he won a school competition for an essay on Africa.Already focused on music, he started DJing at street parties fusing songs from his mother's old records.
He released his first songs in the early eighties, but they did not have much success. Until "Planet Rock" arrived, he was number 4 on the black music sales chart in the United States. In a few days, the LP sold a million copies. His popularity encouraged him so much that James Brown, who had fallen in the eighties, agreed to collaborate with him on the song "Unity" (1984), which was also at the top of the US charts.
Bambaataa continued to release songs and support the legacy of black music for decades, as well as participating in charities and being recognized by artists outside of hip-hop, including DJ Shadow and the Chemical Brothers.But his musical popularity never reached the heights of his Planet Rock days.In an interview with EL PAÍS in 2010, he expressed his displeasure that he had not fulfilled his mission: "I believe we did things well, I'm starting to think we're missing something. Capital stole hip-hop from us and confused most people with hip-hop culture. Money makes everything society wants, and that seems to be my rap culture today and the restoration of my gangster work. That's what I dedicate myself to.
In 2016, his ex-employee accused him of using a minor for sex.Other testimonies of the same opinion have come forward over the course of several days.The first plaintiff ultimately denied it, although in May 2025 the musician lost a civil case in which an anonymous plaintiff accused him of sexual abuse and human trafficking.
These latest episodes damage the career of a pioneering musician in the construction of hip hop, fundamental in the evolution of the genre towards electronic styles, and a spreader and champion of black culture.
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