Person · Male
Afrika Bambaataa
US DJ singer, songwriter & producer
- From
- South Bronx, United States
- Active
- 1957–2026
- Rating
- ★ 2.5
- Releases
- 51
- hip hop
- electro-funk
- afro-funk
- breakbeat
About
Lance Taylor (April 17, 1957 – April 9, 2026), known professionally as Afrika Bambaataa (), was an American disc jockey, rapper and record producer. He was notable for releasing a series of genre-defining electro tracks in the 1980s that influenced the development of hip-hop culture. Bambaataa was one of the originators of breakbeat DJing.
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Through his co-opting of his street gang Black Spades into the music and culture-oriented organization Universal Zulu Nation, he helped spread hip-hop culture throughout the world.
In May 2016, Bambaataa left his position as head of the Universal Zulu Nation due to multiple allegations of child sexual abuse dating as far back as the 1970s. In May 2025, he also lost a sex abuse civil case after failing to issue legal responses. While some have praised his significant impact on the hip-hop industry, others have argued that it will eventually be overshadowed by the sexual abuse allegations.
Member of
-
Afrika Bambaataa and Family eponymous
-
Afrika Bambaataa & The Jazzy 5 eponymous
Discography
Albums
EPs
Singles
-
Hot Stuff
-
Kick Out the Jams
-
Metal Remixes
-
D-Funktional
-
Got That Vibe
-
Metal Apple Music
-
TelLieVision
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Flashlight
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You Ask For The Moon
-
Got to Get Up Apple Music
-
Looking for the Perfect Beat: Brutal Bill Remixes
-
Afrika Bambaataa presents Time Zone vs. DJ Dara
-
Afrika Shox
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Bell-E 2 Bell-E
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Just Get Up and Dance: ’95 Explosive remix
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Throw Ya Funky Hands Up
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Pupunanny Apple Music
-
Feeling Irie Apple Music
-
Jingle Bells / Deck The Halls
-
Funky Heroes Apple Music
-
Just Get Up And Dance Apple Music
-
Soca Fever (Rock It) / Electro Funk Express
-
Unity
-
World Destruction: Meltdown Remix
-
Zulu Nation Throwdown
-
Zulu Nation Throw Down (Volume #2)
Live
Compilations
Links
Listen
Official
Concerts
Buy
Collaboration
Also known as
Africa Bambaata · Africa Bambaataa · Africa Bambaatta · African Bombadda · Afrika Bambaata · Afrika Bambata · Afrika Bambataa · Afrika Bombaataa · Bambaadaa · Bambaataa Khayan Aasim · Bambata · Kevin Donovan · Khayan Aasim Bey Bambaataa · Lance Taylor
Tags
- us
Identifiers
- MusicBrainz
- fe3503fb-146f-4d68-a591-a7e5798c321f
- ISNI
- 0000000078387189
- IPI
- 00130568296
- IPI
- 00141744979
- IPI
- 00519774908
Data from MusicBrainz, saved 10 Nov 2026. Photo from Wikimedia Commons, covers from the Cover Art Archive and Apple Music.