Afrika Bambaataa
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| Afrika Bambaataa | ||
|---|---|---|
| Background information | ||
| Born | April 17, 1957 (Age 49) | |
| Origin | New York City, New York, USA | |
| Genre(s) | hip hop, Electro (music), Dance | |
| Occupation(s) | DJ, Producer | |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals, DJ | |
| Years active | 1977 - Present | |
| Label(s) | Tommy Boy Records EMI |
|
| Associated acts |
The Soulsonic Force Arthur Baker John Lydon |
|
Afrika Bambaataa (born ? on April 17 or October 4, in 1957 or 1960)[1] is a DJ and community leader from the South Bronx, who was instrumental in the early development of hip hop throughout the 1970s. Bambaataa is often considered the first rapper ever.[2]
Contents |
[edit] History
During Bambaataa's early years, he was a founding member of the Bronx River Projects-area street gang, The Savage Seven. Due to the explosive growth of the gang, it later became known as the Black Spades, and he rose to the position of Division Leader. After a life-changing visit to Africa, he changed his name to Afrika Bambaataa Aasim. Bambaataa was influenced by the depiction of the Zulu warriors attacking British troops at Rorke's Drift in the Michael Caine film Zulu.
After the visit, Bambaataa decided to use his leadership to turn those involved in the gang life into something more positive to the community. This began the development of The Organization, which soon later became known as the Zulu Nation, a group of racially and politically aware rappers, B-boys, graffiti artists and other people involved in hip hop culture that gained fame in the early eighties to mid nineties. By 1977, inspired by DJ Kool Herc, Bambaataa had begun organizing block parties all around the South Bronx, and he was soon renowned as one of the best DJs in the business. In 1980, he produced Soul Sonic Force's landmark single, "Zulu Nation Throwdown".
In 1982, Bambaataa organized the very first European hip hop tour. Along with himself were rapper and graffiti artist Rammellzee, Zulu Nation DJ Grand Mixer DXT (formerly Grand Mixer D.St), B-boy and B-girl crews the Rock Steady Crew, and the Double Dutch Girls, as well as legendary graffiti artists Fab 5 Freddy, Phase 2, Futura 2000, and Dondi.
Also in 1982, Bambaataa became a solo artist (having produced several other singles) and released "Jazzy Sensation" on Tommy Boy Records in that year. "Planet Rock", a popular single, came out that June under the name Afrika Bambaataa and the Soul Sonic Force. The song melded electronic hip hop beats with the main melody from Kraftwerk's "Trans-Europe Express", as well as portions from records by Ennio Morricone and Captain Sky - thus creating a new style of music altogether, electro funk. It influenced many styles of electronic and dance music, e.g. freestyle music, house music and techno music. In 1984, Bambaataa recorded "Unity" with James Brown and released "World Destruction" under the name Time Zone (with John Lydon, better known as Johnny Rotten). Shango Funk Theology, a full length album, came out under the name Shango. This was followed by "Funk You" in 1985 and then his formal full album debut, Beware (The Funk Is Everywhere).
Bambaataa then left Tommy Boy and signed with Capitol Records, released The Light (as Afrika Bambaataa & the Family), which included aid from George Clinton, Bootsy Collins, Boy George and UB40. 1990-2000: Decade of Darkness was released in 1991. It included both hip house tracks that were produced by the Italian team De Point (most of those have been collected on ZYX record's The 12" Mixes compilation) as well as hip hop and electro funk tracks. On Warlocks and Witches, Bam (as his name is often abbreviated) focused on hip hop. From the mid-1990s, Bam returned to his electro roots, collaborating with Westbam (who was named after him) and culminating in 2004's album Dark Matter Moving at the Speed of Light which featured Gary Numan and many others. In 2000, Rage Against the Machine covered Afrika's song "Renegades of Funk" for their album Renegades. In 2006, he featured on the British singer Jamelia's album Walk This Way on a song called Do Me Right.
Bambaataa has also performed a variety of both hilarious and serious voice over character roles in the international television series known around the world as Kung Faux [1] from Dubtitled Entertainment and Tommy Boy Films [2].
[edit] Discography
| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Planet Rock (with Soul Sonic Force) | Tommy Boy Records (12") |
| 1982 | Looking For The Perfect Beat (with Soul Sonic Force) | Tommy Boy Records (12") |
| 1983 | Renegades of Funk | Tommy Boy Records (12") |
| 1983 | Wildstyle | Celluloid Records (12") |
| 1984 | Frantic Situation (with Shango from the motion picture soundtrack "Beat Street") | Tommy Boy Records |
| 1985 | Sun City (Artists United Against Apartheid) | EMI |
| 1986 | Planet Rock - The Album | Tommy Boy Records (12") |
| 1986 | Beware (The Funk Is Everywhere) | Tommy Boy Records |
| 1987 | Death Mix Throwdown | Blatant |
| 1988 | The Day | EMI America |
| 1991 | The Decade of Darkness 1990-2000 | EMI Records USA |
| 1992 | Don't Stop... Planet Rock (The Remix EP) | Tommy Boy (EP) |
| 1993 | "Zulu War Chant" | Profile (12") |
| 1993 | "What's the Name of this Nation?... Zulu" | Profile (12") |
| 1993 | "Feeling Irie" | DFC (12") |
| 1994 | "Pupunanny" | DFC (12") |
| 1994 | "Feel the Vibe" | DFC (12") (with Khayan) |
| 1996 | "Jazzin'" by Khayan | ZYX |
| 1996 | Lost Generation | Hottie |
| 1996 | Warlocks and Witches, Computer Chips, Microchips and You | Profile |
| 1997 | Zulu Groove | Hudson Vandam (Compilation) |
| 1998 | "Agharta - The City of Shamballa" | Low Spirit (12") (with Westbam) |
| 1999 | Electro Funk Breakdown | DMC |
| 1999 | Return to Planet Rock | Berger Music |
| 2000 | Hydraulic Funk | Strictly Hype |
| 2001 | Electro Funk Breakdown | DMX (Compilation) |
| 2001 | Looking for the Perfect Beat: 1980-1985 | Tommy Boy Records (Compilation) |
| 2001 | Lovage: Music To Make Love To Your Old Lady By | Nathaniel Merriweather (Dan The Automator) |
| 2004 | Dark Matter Moving at the Speed of Light | Tommy Boy Records |
| 2005 | Metal | Tommy Boy Records |
| 2005 | Metal Remixes | Tommy Boy Records |
[edit] Music sample
- Planet Rock (sample) (file info) — play in browser (beta)
- Planet Rock was released in 1982 and is widely known as a pioneering track for rap music as a whole, as well as for Bambaataa.
- Problems listening to the file? See media help.
[edit] See also
[edit] Notes
- ^ Afrika Bambaataa's date of birth has been cited as April 10 or October 4, in both 1957 or 1960. His exact birthdate is hotly debated, and he himself refuses to comment on his age. New York residency records give it as April 17, 1957. Also, his real name has often been mistakenly credited as "Kevin Donovan", who was actually one of his contemporaries in the early NY Hip Hop scene.
- ^ Bambaataa, however, once credited Herc as the founder of rap. "A lot of people always think [rap] started in the South Bronx, but officially it came from the West Bronx, ‘cause Kool Herc, was from that area. Then it came over to the South Bronx with myself and Flash." See The Origin of Rap.
[edit] External links
