Hip-hop pioneer Afrika Bambaataa has reportedly died of cancer at the age of 67.
Afrika Bambaataa, the rapper and DJ who brought hip-hop culture to the masses, died early Thursday morning of complications from cancer in Pennsylvania, TMZ reported on Thursday (April 9). He is 67 years old.
There has been no official statement from Bambaataa’s family or the Universal Zulu Nation, the New York City-based organization founded by Bam in 1973.
Afrika Bambaataa, whose real name is Lance Taylor, was born in 1957 in the Bronx, New York City. He was once the leader of the city’s most notorious street gang, The Black Spades, who he turned into the Universal Zulu Nation, an organization dedicated to uniting singers, community dance leaders and community dance leaders through peaceful means, including hip-hop artists.
Throughout the 1970s, Bambaataa became known for hosting block parties in the South Bronx, eventually releasing his first single in 1980 titled “Zulu Nation Throwdown,” a reference to his collective Zulu Nation. In 1982, Bambaataa mixed the melody of Kraftwerk’s “Trans-Europe Express” with the synth bass of Kraftwerk’s “Numbers” and the percussion of Captain Sky’s “Super Sperm” to create “Planet Rock,” one of the most influential songs in hip-hop history. “Planet Rock” not only became a touchstone in rap culture, it also pioneered a new genre of music, electronic music, specifically electro-funk.
Some of Bam’s classic songs became mainstays in clubs and radio stations, including “Looking for the Perfect Beat,” “Renegades Funk” and the James Brown-assisted song “Unity,” among others.
Afrika Bambaataa recorded most of his early hits on the historic hip-hop label Tommy Boy Records. The music label released a statement about the late DJ’s passing on its Instagram page. It reads:
“Afrika Bambaataa was an influential figure in the early days of Tommy Boy and is widely regarded as a pioneer of hip-hop and electronic music. With his passing, we reflect on his contributions to the genre and wider culture, which continue to this day.”
In 2016, Bambaataa’s musical legacy was tarnished by accusations from several men that the late DJ-producer sexually assaulted them decades ago. Bambaataa was eventually removed as Zulu leader in May 2016, and the organization apologized to victims of Bam’s alleged sexual abuse.
Although Bambaataa has always denied the accusations, he was forced in May 2025 to pay a settlement to an anonymous Jane Doe who accused him of sex trafficking in the 1990s. Because Bam never appeared in court, the judge entered an undisclosed default judgment against the plaintiff.
After learning of Bambaataa’s death, Public Enemy frontman Chuck D wrote on his X account:
“Facts and truth. One of the founders of HipHop. I keep it in the culture and thank him for the grace he has given me and my team and what so many have accomplished. I will leave it there…as I have always been taught…never rush to condemn and always be slow to judge.”
Throughout his life, Afrika Bambaataa received many honors, including nomination to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007 and three years as a visiting scholar at Cornell University.
