Ronald Savage

Ronald Savage
Savage in 2007
Born	1965 (age 51–52)[1] Bronx, New York, U.S.
Nationality	American
Other names	Bee-Stinger
Occupation	Activist Entrepreneur Hip-hop artist Author
Website	RonaldSavage.com

Ronald Savage (born 1965)^[1] is an entrepreneur, hip-hop artist, author, and activist. He was known as the "crate boy" for D.J. Jazzy Jay, who was the DJ for Afrika Bambaataa. Bambaataa was the founder of the Universal Zulu Nation and was known as "the Godfather" of Hip Hop.

Early life

Growing up in the Castle Hill Houses in The Bronx, New York, Savage was diagnosed with Tourette syndrome as well as Epilepsy. He became a member of the Universal Zulu Nation at 14 years old. Savage used to spend time with D.J Jazzy Jay while he recorded records during the beginning of the wave of hip hop during the early 1980s.^[2] Ron states "The best time I had in Hop Hop, when I was a kid was being paid after the parties, we were being paid [by Bambaataa] in White Castles Hamburgers".^[3]

Hip-hop career

Savage at a press photo shoot.

Ronald Savage got his start in the music industry in 1986 when Jazzy Jay built his recording studio in the Bronx on Blondel Ave.^[4] He paid his dues by running errands for Jazzy.^[4][5] A few years later, In 1986 Jazzy Jay teamed up with Rocky Bucano to start Strong City Records. Soon, Jazzy moved the label to Allenton Ave in the Bronx, where Savage convinced the DJ's to play records of Strong City artists on rap radio and in rap clubs. soon after in 1988 Strong City Records^[6] was acquired by MCA Records to become Strong City / MCA / Uni Records. There, Savage worked on Strong City Record acts such as Busy Bee Starski, Def Duo, Ultimate Force, Ice Cream Tee, Nu Sounds, BZ2 M.C.'s, and other groups like Brand Nubian, Showbiz & A.G, Fat Joe, which all worked out of Jazzy Jay Studios.

A few years later, he left Strong City Records and began working for Dick Scott Entertainment the management company for the New Kids on The Block, Marky Mark, Boys to Men. At Dick Scott Entertainment, Savage worked as an artist liaison for the rap group Snap!^[2] who's single "I Got The Power" went #1 on the weekly charts in Spain, UK, Netherlands, Switzerland, as well as the Eurochart Hot 100. In 1990 the song hit #2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.^[7] Savage also handled for Dick Scott Entertainment other groups as Doug E Fresh, Ikey Cee, and Show Biz & A.G.^[2] While working as an artist liaison at Dick Scott Entertainment, he suffered a mild stroke from the constant stress at his job which ended his career in the music industry.^[8] In 1990, while working with Snap!, Savage carved the term "Six elements of the Hip Hop Movement". The "Six Elements Of The Hip Hop Movement" are: Consciousness Awareness, Civil Rights Awareness, Activism Awareness, Justice, Political Awareness, Community Awareness in music. Hip Is The Culture and Hop is The Movement, Ronald Savage is also known as the Son of The Hip Hop Movement.^[9]

Non-profit and political work

In 2005, Ronald Savage started a non-profit organization called United Coalition Association. Its mission is to fight juvenile delinquency and counteract negative behavior in youth. It also which organizes college fairs to prepare students the entrance to college.^[2]

Savage also appeared in PSAs encouraging youth to stay away from gang activity, which aired on TV stations such as MTV and VH1. In 2008, Savage was elected to the New York State Democratic Committee with the help of former NYS Assemblyman Peter M Rivera. Savage was honored by the NAACP with an award in recognition of his devotion and commitment and uplifting youth in the community. Ronald Savage is also the founder of the New York State College Fair Day. He also created a DVD called The Plan which provides information about entrance to college.^[10]

Controversy

In 2005, Savage filed a charge of Disability Discrimination with the EEOC against Summit Security Services in New York City for discriminating against his disabilities in the workplace.^[11][12] In 2011, Bronx Boro President Ruben Diaz Jr., Diaz did not reappoint Savage, then a New York State Democratic Committeeman for the 76th Assembly District, back to local Community Board #9 in the Soundview area of the Bronx, because Savage helped Charlie Ramos (a candidate for senate) in the 2011 September primary elections against Ruben Diaz Jr's father, New York state Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr.^[13]

In 2016, Savage reported that Afrika Bambaataa molested him at the age of 15 in 1980.^[14] Former Hot 97 host of the Star & Buck-wild Show in New York City broke the story on the Shot 97 internet radio show. On April 9, the exclusive story appeared in the New York Daily News.^[1] Ronald Savage is the first known person to state his real name and come forth publicly to allegedly claim that Bambaataa molested him as a child. The Universal Zulu Nation extended their deepest and most sincere apologies to Savage after three more men came forth after the story was published. Savage has also fought to help change the statute of limitations laws in New York State against child molesters.^[15][16]

Savage was featured on the 2016 single "Don't Close Your Eyes" produced by Jonathan Hay, where he spoke over Bambaataa's song "Planet Rock" which was replayed in the track. Savage speaks out about child molestation and issues a very bold challenge to the President of the United States, stating, “Children are being molested every day. I was molested by a world Hip-Hop icon,” states Savage. “My question is to the President of the United States of America: what are you going to do about the child molestation crisis of America?”.^[17] Savage also stated in an interview in London, "I don’t recognize the term Hip Hop Culture because that is a term Bambaataa coined and I don’t know what his intention was when he coined the term, but what I do recognize is Hip Hop and I salute the rebirth of the Hip Hop movement".^[18]

Other projects

Savage has also developed an Android game called Milkshake Squirrel^[19] and is the co-owner of the clothing company ULULY.^[20][21] Impulse, Urges and Fantasies: "Life Is a Bag of Mixed Emotions" is the first book Savage wrote.^[22]

References