Afrika Bambaataa is one of the three Godfathers of Hip Hop culture (together with DJ Kool Herc & Grandmaster Flash). A world-renowned DJ from the South Bronx, who was instrumental in the early development of Hip Hop throughout the 1970s. Afrika Bambaataa is one of the three main originators of break-beat deejaying, and is respectfully known as the “Grandfather” and “Godfather” and The Amen Ra of Universal Hip Hop Culture as well as The Father of The Electro Funk Sound.
Through his co-opting of the street gang the Black Spades into the music and culture-oriented Universal Zulu Nation, he is responsible for spreading rap and Hip Hop culture throughout the world. Like many of the early pioneers in Hip Hop, he is of West Indian descent. On September 27, 2007, he was nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. (Continued…)