Afrika Bambaataa
USA, 1977–now
American DJ (b. 1957, Lance Taylor), a founding figure of hip-hop culture and founder of the Universal Zulu Nation. 'Planet Rock' (1982), with the Soulsonic Force, set Kraftwerk's electronics against funk rhythm and established electro.
MusicRoots documents 3 artists who influenced Afrika Bambaataa and 8 artists Afrika Bambaataa influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.
Who influenced Afrika Bambaataa?
- DJ Kool Herc — Bambaataa first heard Kool Herc in 1973 and began to DJ in Herc's style after getting his own sound system.
- Disco King Mario — Bambaataa started out as an assistant to Disco King Mario, who loaned him the equipment for many of his first DJ appearances.
- Kool DJ Dee — Bambaataa cited Kool DJ Dee, alongside Kool Herc, as an early inspiration for his own DJing.
Which artists did Afrika Bambaataa influence?
- Technotronic — As hip house, Technotronic fused house with hip-hop rapping (Ya Kid K) — the electro-rap lineage Afrika Bambaataa helped launch.
- Snap! — 'The Power' is built on rap and electro samples (Chill Rob G, Mantronix's 'King of the Beats') — the hip-hop tradition Afrika Bambaataa pioneered.
- 2 Unlimited — Ray Slijngaard's rapped verses place 2 Unlimited in the hip-hop tradition Afrika Bambaataa helped launch, one of Eurodance's core ingredients.
- Culture Beat — Jay Supreme's rap on 'Mr. Vain' draws on the hip-hop tradition Afrika Bambaataa pioneered, half of the rap-verse / diva-chorus Eurodance template.
- Dr. Alban — Dr. Alban's rapped, chant-along delivery ties his Eurodance to the hip-hop tradition Afrika Bambaataa pioneered.
- Captain Hollywood Project — Captain Hollywood Project fronted by rapper-dancer Tony Dawson-Harrison draws its rapped hooks from the hip-hop tradition Afrika Bambaataa pioneered.
- Real McCoy — Olaf 'O-Jay' Jeglitza's raps place Real McCoy in the hip-hop tradition Afrika Bambaataa pioneered, one half of the Eurodance formula.
- Wu-Tang Clan — Afrika Bambaataa's foundational hip-hop and funk-sampling ethos underlie RZA's soul- and funk-built beats.