When was Afrika Bambaataa born and what was his birth name?
Lance Taylor was born the 17th of April 1957. He was once a feared warlord of the Black Spades gang before changing his name to Afrika Bambaataa Aasim.
Common questions about Afrika Bambaataa
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What event caused Afrika Bambaataa to leave gang life and start the Universal Zulu Nation?
Afrika Bambaataa won an essay contest that awarded him a trip to Africa, which inspired him to dissolve the Black Spades. He founded the Bronx River Organization on the 12th of November 1977 to promote peace and unity.
How did Afrika Bambaataa and Arthur Baker change music with the song Planet Rock?
Afrika Bambaataa and Arthur Baker released Planet Rock in 1982, which was the first commercially released American single made on a computer. The track used the Fairlight CMI and Roland TR-808 drum machine to create electro-funk without live instrumentation.
When did the Universal Zulu Nation disassociate from Afrika Bambaataa and why?
The Universal Zulu Nation disassociated from Afrika Bambaataa in early May 2016 following allegations of child sexual abuse. Bambaataa resigned as head of the organization on the 6th of May 2016, after multiple accusers came forward.
What legal actions were taken against Afrika Bambaataa in 2021 and 2024?
In October 2021, Bambaataa was sued by an anonymous man alleging abuse between 1991 and 1995. In November 2024, French hip-hop pioneer of the group Assassin alleged in his autobiography that he was sexually victimized by Bambaataa in the 1980s.