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![Text Box: Bambaataa (born ? on April 17 or October 4, 1957 and 1960) was 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. 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."
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 from Dubtitled Entertainment and Tommy Boy Films.
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](image9007.gif)
