1. Afrika Bambaataa
The Godfather of Hip-Hop
By Christina Hicks
Original graffiti by Noir-1 TBB Texas

2. Planet Rock: Where the story begins…
“In April of 1982, Afrika Bambaataa
unleashed a grand statement for
what he was now calling the hip-hop
movement. It was called ‘Planet
Rock’.
’Planet Rock’…was the record that initiated that [Hip Hop]
wasn’t just an urban thing, it was inclusive. It was okay for
rockers, new wavers, uptown coming downtown…that’s
when hip-hop became global.” (Chang 89-173)

3. Something Old, Something New
‘Planet Rock’ was a mishmash, influenced by Afrika Bambaataa’s
eclectic musical taste. The original idea married some of Bambaataa’s
favorite records: Babe Ruth’s ‘The Mexican’, Captain Sky’s ‘Super
Sperm’, Kraftwerk’s ‘Numbers’ and ‘Trans-Europe Express’, B.T. Express’
‘Do You Like It’ and Rick James’ ‘Give It to Me.’
“The final version only included Kraftwerk and Babe Ruth. This
stripped-down result somehow perfectly captured Bambaataa’s
mystery…’Planet Rock’ was hip-hop’s universal invitation, a hypnotic
vision of one world under a groove, beyond race, poverty, sociology
and geography.” (Chang 89-173)
“Trans-Europe Express” “The Mexican”

4. Long before April 1982 in the Bronx…
As a young man growing up in the Bronx in
one of the many towers in the projects,
Bambaataa seemed to know that he was
destined for greater things far beyond the
borough. A child of the late 60’s, he was
keenly aware of the struggles faced in
segregation and liberation.
“…through his mother’s record collection – an
eclectic shelf that included Miriam Makeba,
Mighty Sparrow, Joe Cuba, and Aretha
Franklin – Bambaataa developed a different
kind of perspective. (Chang 89-173)

5. The Bronx in the 70’s
Outside, the projects were a different place, lines were drawn
and gangs were a way of life. Young Bambaataa joined up with a
gang called the Black Spades.

6. The Black Spades
“This was the baddest and biggest black
street gang around in NYC in those
times. They had divisions all over the
place and were known as a strong gang
not to be ****ed with. Originally they
were known as "The Savage Seven"
then they became "The Black Spades".
The Spades were also very violent and
ran the Bronx like no other gang could.”
(TBB)

7. The 1971 Miracle
Then in 1971 something miraculous happened. Some of the gang
leaders came together and signed a peace treaty. As racial
tensions exploded elsewhere in the city, the gangs of South
Bronx were able to find peace that most would have thought
impossible. “The peace treaty, particularly the Spades’ president
Bam Bam’s personal commitment to it, had a profound impact
on the young warlord. Bambaataa began to search for a way
out, and he found his skills in mobilizing for war could be just as
easily be turned to peace.” (Chang 89-173)

8. A new sound, a new focus…
And as Bambaataa began to search for something more, “he
found something that was powerful, creative, something that
signaled life.” (Chang 89-173) A noise was hitting the streets,
spreading like wildfire.
A man by the name of DJ
Kool Herc’s new sound was
bringing people together
to party. Community
centers, basements, street
corners were filling with
people partying instead of
fighting.

9. Afrika Bambaataa the DJ is born
“Herc’s New Cool offered Bambaataa a way forward. Bambaataa
apprenticed with two former Black Spades that had also become
DJs – Kool DJ D…and Disco King Mario…and began throwing his
own parties in the community center just steps from his front
door…Each weekend Bambaataa would preside over a ritual of
motion and fun…’Block parties was a way to do your thing,
plugging into the lamppost…And we had the support of the
whole community. It’s like, we’d rather see them doing that,
doing something constructive than to be down the block beating
each other upside the head like they used to do in the gang
days.” (Chang 89-173)

10. Rocking becomes Breaking…
With the music came the dancing, at this time it was known only
as rocking. A form of dance born from the vivid gang war history
that the originators came from, was about to get a new style.
“On a hot summer in July 1975,
while Rocking with some members
of The Bronx Boys, a simple move
turned into a falling mistake by a
kid named TE- TE Rock who fell to
the ground and made a swift move
that changed the Rocking dance art
throughout the world. This dance
art became known as bboying or
breaking...” (TBB)

11. Graffiti becomes Art…
Graffiti was also undergoing a change. Formerly used by gangs
to mark territory, it was transforming into an art, a way for
people to leave a new kind of mark. “During those old school
days Rocking and Graffiti were the two best things for the young
people growing up in the Bronx, and tagging up was what
motivated us the most since it contained the substance of fame”
(TBB) than just a new music genre.
And so Hip-Hop was beginning
to grow into something greater
than just a new music genre.
Original graffiti by Ederton Sole - TBB Texas

12. The Elements begin to unite…
“In 1977 TBB Rocking Crew had spread largely throughout the
Bronx which had caught the eye of Africa Bambaataa.” (TBB)
Bambaataa had gathered a following during this time and had
transformed them into an organization devoted to peace called
the Zulu Nation. He wanted The Bronx Boys Rocking Crew to
come alongside him in his mission of peace. “We met with
him…and we discussed issues that pertained to the safety of all
the young people who used to attend Jams, DJ Parties, and
School Yard Jams etc. The agreement was settled with respect
and great concern and consideration for the sake of the young
people ….The Zulu Nation and TBB became together after that
meeting.” (TBB) The elements were uniting. Hip-Hop was
becoming a culture.

13. The Four Elements of Hip-Hop
United by Bambaataa’s message of “Peace, Love, Unity and
Having Fun” – the MCs, the DJs, the graffiti writers, the b-boys
and b-girls, the crews they brought and the crowds they
moved...were becoming Bambaataa’s Army.” (Chang 89-173)
The movement was growing.
While it may be hard for us to
imagine at this point, “most of the
youthful energy that became
known as hip-hop could be
contained in a tiny seven-mile
circle.” (Chang 89-173) This was
about to change.

14. In October 1979…
…the very first hip-hop recording “Rapper’s Delight” was made
and released. In that fifteen minute recording, the whole world
sat up and heard something new. “’Rapper’s Delight’ crossed
over from New York’s insular hip-hop scene to Black radio, then
charged up the American Top 40, and swept around the
globe….It became the best-selling twelve-inch single ever
pressed.” (Chang 89-173) To many of the original artists in the
Bronx, this recording was bogus. A group of no-names using
stolen lyrics, to them it was a joke!
But this opened the door, record execs saw dollar signs…

15. Back to April 1982…
The number of rap crews exploded…for the next decade and a
half, hip-hop music moved away from the parks and the
community centers and the clubs and into the lab.” (Chang 89-
173)
But it wasn’t until April of 1982 that the world was officially
introduced to what Afrika Bambaataa had named “the hip-hop
movement”. “After his hit sensation "Planet Rock" in 1982,
Bambaataa organized the first international Hip Hop tour of B-
Boys, Graffiti Artists, DJs and Emcees (MCs) providing the world
with the first glimpse of the Cultural Revolution called Hip Hop.”
(Universal Zulu Nation)

16. Changing the way music is made…
In the song “Planet Rock”, hip-hop was even changing the way
music was made. “Bambaataa’s goal to find the perfect beat for
“Planet Rock” pioneered the use of drum machines in hip-hop,
and spawned the genres of music that would come to be known
as Electro, Freestyle, House, Miami Bass and even early
Techno…As sample based hip-hop came to the forefront of the
late 80s, and a generation of hip-hop producer’s raided their
parents dusty attic shelves for James Brown records…” (Foat)

17. Uniting the Past and Present…
“Bam was the first to pay homage to the Godfather of Funk by
releasing a record with him called “Unity” in
1984….[Bambaataa’s] vast knowledge of music and diverse taste
in beats inspired the hip-hop generation to dig deep in the past
for musical inspiration for the present.” (Foat) It was a fitting
union between the Godfather of Funk and the man who has
come to be known as the Godfather of Hip-Hop. The funky
grooves, call/response and rhythmic syncopations of Sly and the
Family Stone, George Clinton/Parliament Funkadelic, and James
Brown found new life, resurrected by hip-hop DJs.
“Unity” by James Brown & Afrika Bambaataa

18. Creating the Future…
Bambaataa also brought new
sounds to the hip-hop crowd in
the form of Salsa, Reggae, Rock,
Jazz, and African music. “He has
consistently made records
nationally and internationally,
every one to two years, spanning
the 1980’s into the next
Millennium 2000.” (Universal Zulu
Nation) His full discography is
extensive.

19. Discography
(Screenshots taken from Wikipedia.org)

20. Beyond a DJ…
Afrika Bambaataa’s contributions reach far beyond his
contributions as a break-beat DJ. He is also responsible for
launching many musical careers. “Bam was instrumental in
launching the R&B group New Edition, Maurice Starr and the
Jonzun Crew, Tashan and Bernard Fowler of the Peech Boys, to
name a few.” (Universal Zulu Nation)

21. An Influential Force…
While it’s impossible to know all of the people who have been
influenced in some way by Afrika Bambaataa, some of the more
notable are “A Tribe Called Quest”, “The Beastie Boys”, “De La
Soul”, “DJ Shadow” “Boogie Down Productions”, and “LL Cool J”
among others. (Bush)
There may be some that come as a surprise. A song released as
a single by Afrika Bambaataa and the group he formed, “The
Soul Sonic Force” in 1984 “Renegades of Funk” was covered by
the group “Rage Against the Machine” in 2000.
Link to full music video if you’re interested!

22. Planet Rock lives on…
Of all his influential music, “Planet Rock” most likely takes the
title. In just two examples - Jazz and neosoul vocalist Dwight
Trible released a track in 2005 called "I Was Born on Planet Rock"
featuring rapper Scienz of Life. It was meant to be a tribute to
"Planet Rock" and its legacy on hip hop culture and music. MC
Common created a whole album based on the influence this
song had on him called “Universal Mind Control”, the title song
bears a musical resemblance to “Planet Rock” in many ways.
The 1st minute of “Planet “Universal Mind Control”
Rock for comparison by Common

23. The Mystery that is Bambaataa…
One of the most interesting mysteries surrounding Afrika
Bambaataa is what exactly was his “real” or given name at birth.
While journalists and online hip-hop history sites, even good’ol
Wikipedia, will claim that his birth name was Kevin Donovan this
is actually the name of “another man who happened to be the
leader of record-label owner Paul Winley’s house band, the
Harlem Underground Band.” (Chang 89-173) Whatever his name
actually is, Bambaataa chose to take on the title of “Afrika
Bambaataa” the later part meaning “Affectionate Leader” in Zulu
which truly epitomizes who he has become to the many
generations who are part of the hip-hop culture.

24. Fun Facts
My family has met Lord Yoda, one of the members of Afrika
Bambaataa’s Soul Sonic Force, through being part of the The
Bronx Boys who still work closely with Zulu Nation to this day.
He is a very humble and sweet man! I’m hoping to get to meet
Afrika Bambaataa at some point as well.
Even more random…I had the opportunity to dance on stage
with the Soul Sonic Force during a show they played in
Philadelphia back in 2007.

25. The Future of Hip-Hop
Being a part of this culture is
inspiring. Even though sadly what
most people know of hip-hop today
is commercialized nonsense, true
hip-hop that holds to the original
ideals as preached by the Godfather
of hip-hop is still alive and growing.
While much of this new generation
has grown up underground, they are
beginning to again influence their
communities in positive ways and
teach the next generation to hold
true to: Peace, Love, Unity and
Having Fun!

26. Works Cited
Bush, John. "Afrika Bambaataa." Rovi Corp (2012): n.pag. AllMusic.com. Web. 12
Nov 2012. <http://www.allmusic.com/artist/afrika-bambaataa-mn0000929862>.
Chang, Jeff. Can't Stop Won't Stop. New York, New York: St. Martin's Press, 2005.
89-173. Print.
Foat, Jason. "The Music World of Afrika Bambaataa." Universal Zulu Nation. N.p.,
n.d. Web. 24 Nov 2012. <http://www.zulunation.com/afrika.html>.
TBB, Aby. Internet Chat Interview. November 20 2012.
"The Music World of Afrika Bambaataa." Universal Zulu Nation. PRIMEDIA Business
Magazine & Media Inc., n.d. Web. 24 Nov 2012.
<http://www.zulunation.com/afrika.html>.
Much love and thanks to my TBB family for allowing me to use their photos!