Afrika Bambaataa, Often Called the ‘Godfather of Hip-Hop,’ Is Dead
The New York Times • • nation
Key Points:
- Afrika Bambaataa, a pioneering Bronx DJ credited with shaping hip-hop in the 1970s and 1980s, has died, according to a statement from the Universal Zulu Nation, the hip-hop group he founded.
- The exact time, place, and cause of his death remain unclear, but a close friend stated that he "peacefully fell asleep and did not wake up."
- Bambaataa's legacy was marred by widespread accusations of child sexual abuse and trafficking, culminating in a lost civil case last year.
- He grew up in the Bronx River Houses and was involved with the Black Spades gang before becoming a key figure in hip-hop culture.
- Michael Holman, a notable figure in early hip-hop, described Bambaataa as pivotal in bridging hip-hop with Manhattan's art scene during the late 1970s and early 1980s.
