Afrika Bambaataa, the DJ, rapper and producer who merged hip hop with electro in the 80s, has died at the age of 68.
News of his passing was confirmed in an Instagram post by the Hip Hop Alliance, a not-for-profit organisation that supports creatives working in hip hop. TMZ reported that he died in Pennsylvania as a result of complications from cancer.
Born Lance Taylor in The Bronx, New York City in April 1957, the artist is considered an early pioneer of hip hop. He launched the Universal Zulu Nation collective in 1973, which helped the genre emerge from its local New York roots into a wider-known phenomenon.
In the 80s, inspired by the music of Kraftwerk, Taylor combined hip hop with electro music and embraced the Roland TR-808 drum machine to build the distinct sound that coloured hits like ‘Planet Rock’. He continued to perform and release music until 2013.
Taylor’s legacy is dimmed, however, by multiple sexual assault allegations that have emerged over the past decade. In 2016, he was accused of sexually abusing a number of teenagers during the 1980s. Rolling Stone reported that at least 13 men came forward with allegations against Taylor, who denied those claims.
In 2021, Taylor faced a further accusation of child molestation and trafficking, but did not respond to a lawsuit. He lost the case against him after failing to show up to court.
