Afrika Bambaataa The Godfather of Hip-Hop

By Christina Hicks

Original graffiti by Noir-1 TBB Texas

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)

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”

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)

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.

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)

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)

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.

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)

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)

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

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.

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.

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…

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)

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)

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

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.

Discography

(Screenshots taken from Wikipedia.org)

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)

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!

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 Rock for comparison

“Universal Mind Control” by Common

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.

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.

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!

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!