Legendary singer Afrika Bambaataa, a cornerstone of hip-hop history, has passed away at the age of 67 after battling cancer. Best known for his groundbreaking song “Planet Rock” and as the founder of Universal Zulu Nation, his influence helped shape the genre and its culture.
Afrika Bambaataa, the man widely considered one of hip-hop’s key pioneers, died on April 8 at the age of 67. The death of the DJ, rapper and producer is linked to complications from cancer.
Afrika Bambaataa died of complications from cancer
TMZ reported that Bambaataa died in a hospital in Pennsylvania after suffering from health challenges related to cancer.“Hip-hop will never be the same without him; but everything hip-hop is today, is because of him. His spirit lives on in every beat, every blade, and every corner of this world he touched,” his talent agency, Naf Management Entertainment, wrote in a statement Tuesday.
Here’s a look at the legend’s career.
Bambaataa was born in the Bronx and quickly rose through the ranks of the local gang, the Black Spades, to the position of “warlord.”
Beginning in the 1970s, Bambaataa began hosting hip-hop parties, which quickly grew into massive parties in the South Bronx. Bambaataa released his debut single in 1980 called “Zulu Nation Throwdown”, a reference to the Universal Zulu Nation, an art collective of socially conscious rappers, graffiti artists, B-boys and more people involved in hip-hop culture, and his 1982 single “Planet Rock” rose to No. 4 in the US.
R&B chart.In 1985, Bambaataa helped create the anti-apartheid album “Sun City” with many major artists, including Joey Ramone, Run-DMC, U2 and many others.Towards the end of his life, Afrika Bambaataa faced a host of legal issues, after several men accused him of sexually assaulting them in the 1980s and 1990s. He was forced to pay a settlement in 2025 to a man he accused of sex trafficking in the 1990s after a judge entered a default judgment when he did not show up to court.The rapper is best known for hits like 1982’s “Planet Rock” and for founding the art group Universal Zulu Nation.Disclaimer: This article contains references to cancer and personal experiences related to the disease, which readers may find sensitive. The information shared is based on personal accounts or reported events and is intended for general awareness only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.