AFRIKA BAMBAATTA

Afrika Bambaatta is one of the three main originators of break-beat deejaying, and is respectfully known as the “grandfather” and “godfather” of hip hop. Through his co-opting of the street gang the Black Spades into the music and culture-oriented Zulu nation, he is responsible for spreading rap and hip-hop culture throughout the world. He has consistently made records nationally and internationally, every one to two years, spanning the 1980’s into the 1990’s. Due to his early use of drum machines and computer sounds, Bam (as he is affectionally known) was instrumental in changing the way R&B and other forms of black music were recorded. His creation of electrofunk, beginning with his piece “Planet Rock” helped fuel the development of other musical genres such as freestyle or Latin freestyle, Miami bass, house, hip house, and early techno. Bam is responsible for initiating many careers in the music industry, and his early association with Tom Silverman of Tommy Boy Records helped propel the label to it’s success. Bam was instrumental in launching the R&B group New Edition, Maurice Starr and the Jonzun Crew, Tashan, and Bernard Fowler of the Peech Boys to name a few. Bam is also recognised as a humanitarian and a man of peace, who has applied elements of Afrocentric, spiritual, and health-conscious teachings to his philosophy. He is also a historian on hip-hop roots, who traces the culture back to the times of the African griots. At a time when DJ’s hip hop or otherwise-were recognised for the distinctive records they played, Bam was called the “Master of Records” and was acclaimed for the wide variety of music and break records he presented to the hip-hop crowd, which included go-go, soca, reggae and African music.
He is responsible for premiering the following records and songs to hip hoppers, which are now staples in rap and hip-hop culture. “Jam on the Groove” and “Calypso Breakdown” by Ralph McDonald; “Dance to the Drummer’s Beat” by Herman Kelly; “Champ” by the Mohawlas; themes from the Andy Griffin Show and the Pink Panther, and the Trans-Europe Express by Kraftwerk. Bam joined the Bronx River Projects division of the Black Spades street gang in the southeast Bronx in ACT, where he soon became warlord. Always a music enthusiast (taking up trumpet and piano for a short time at Adlai F. Stevenson High School), Barn was also a serious record collector, who collected everything from R&B to rock. By 1970 he was already deejaying at house parties. Barn became even more interested in deejaying around 1973,when he heard Bronx DJs Kool DJ D and Kool DJ D had one of the first coffins (a rectangular case that holds two turntables and a mixer) in the Bronx area circa 1972.West Bronx DJ Kool DJ Herc was playing funk records by James Brown, and later just playing the instrumental breaks of those records, noticing that he had many of the same records Herc was playing, Bam began to play them, but expanded his repertoire to include other types of music as well. As the Black Spades gang began to die out towards ’73, Bam began forming a group at Stevenson High School, first calling it the Bronx River Organisation. Bam had deejayed with his own sound system at the Bronx River Community Centre, with Mr. Biggs Queen Kenya, and Cowboy, who accompanied him in performances in the community. Because of his prior status in the Black Spades, Bam already had an established party crowd drawn from former members of the gang. About a year later he reformed the group, calling it the Zulu Nation (inspired by his wide studies on African history at the time). Five b-boys (break dancers) joined him called the Chaka ZULU Kings, a.k.a. ZULU Kings, there were also the Skaka Zulu Queens. As Bam continued deejaying, more DJs, rappers, break dancers, graffiti writers, and artists followed his parties, and he took them under his wing and made them members of his Zulu Nation. By 1976, because of the proliferation of DJs, many sound system battles would occur to determine which DJ had the best music and sound. Although the amount of people gathered around a DJ was supposed to be the deciding factor, the best DJ was mostly determined by whose system was the loudest. Held in parks and community centres, Djs would set up their gear on opposite sides, playing their records at the same time at maximum volume. However Bam decided that all challenges to him would follow an hour-by-hour rule, where he would play for an hour, and the opposing DJ would play for an hour. Bam’s first official battle was against Disco King Mario at Junior High School 123 (a.k.a. the Funky 3). A few other important battles Bam had later on were against Grand Master Caz (known as Casanova Fly at that time and who later was, one of the Cold Crush Brothers) at the P.A.L (Police Athletic League) circa 1978, and a team battle against Grandmaster Flash and an army of sound systems, with Bam teaming systems with Disco King Mario and DJ Tex. Bam formed additional systems for battling as well, like the Earthquake Systems with DJ Superman and DJ Jazzy Jay. There were also many MC battles, whose rappers from Bam’s Zulu Nation would go against other outside rappers. Later Bam also jointly promoted shows with Kool Herc under the name “Nubian Productions”. Many cassette tapes were made of Bam’s parties and MC battles, which were sometimes sold for $20 to $40 a piece. During long music segments when Bam was deejaying, he would sometimes mix in recorded speeches from Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jnr., and later Louis Farrakan. Influenced by George Clinton, and the many separate-but-same Groups that he created, Bam formed the Soul Sonic Force, which init’s original make-up consisted of approximately twenty Zulu Nation members. The Soul Sonic Force were groups within groups that Bam would perform and make records with including; Soul Sonic Force ($1)-Mr. Biggs, Queen Kenya, DJ Cowboy Soul Sonic Force (#2)-Mr. Biggs, Pow Wow, G.L.O.B.E., (creator of the MC “popping” rap style) and DJ Jazzy Jay. Cosmic Force-Queen Lisa Lee, Prince Ikey C, Ice Ice (#1), Chubby Chub; Jazzy Five, DJ Jazzy Jay, Mr. Freeze, Master DEE, Kool DJ Red Alert, Sundance Ice Ice (#2), CharlieChew, Master Boo, Busy Bee Starski, Akbar (Lil Starski), Raheim. Around 1980,Bam and his groups made their first recordings with Paul Winley Records, who recorded Bam’s “Death Mix” piece. Winley also released Cosmic Forces “Zulu Nation Throwdown”, after which Bam (disappointed with the results) left the company. Bam’s parties had now spread to places like the Audubon Ballroom and the T-Connection. In the early 1980’s,news about Bam and other DJs, parties and the type of music Bam played started travelling to the downtown sections of Manhattan. Tom Silverton visited Bam at one of his Parties and did an article on him and the Zulu Nation for his own dance music report magazine. The two became friends and Silverman later recorded Bam and his Soul Sonic Force with a group of female singers called Colton Candy. The first song Silverman recorded around 1981 with both groups (without Bam’s name listed) was a work titled “Let’s vote” after which a second song was recorded and released titled “Having Fun”. Thereafter Silverman met producer Arthur Baker, and together with then- KISS-FM radio mastermix DJ Shep Pettibone, Silverman recorded Bam and the Jazzy Fives “Jazzy Sensation” on Silverman’s own Tommy Boy Records label. The record had three mixes, one with bam and the Jazzy Five, and the other with a group called the Kryptic Krew, The third mix was an instrumental. The record was a hit with hip hoppers. Around 1982 hip-hop artist Fab 5 Freddy was Putting together music pakages in the largely white downtown Manhattan new-wave clubs, and invited Bam to perform at one of them, called the mudd club. It was the first time Bam had performed before a predominantly white crowd, making it the first time hip hop fused with white culture. Attendance for Bam’s parties downtown became so large that he had move to larger venues, first to the ritz, with Malcolm Mclaren’s group, Bow Wow Wow (and the Rock Steady Crew b-boys became part of the Zulu Nation), then to the pepermint Lounge, Negril, Danceteria, and most significantly to the legendary parties thrown by Kool Lady Blue at her Wheels of Steel Club @ the Roxy. In 1982 Bam had an idea for a record revolving around Kraftwerk’s piece “Trans-Europe Express” Bam bought the idea to Silverman’s apartment. Bam soon met John Robie, who brought Bam a techno-pop oriented record titled “Verna Carved” that he was trying to release. Bam then introduced Robie to Arthur Baker, and the three of them, along with Silverman and the Soul Sonic Force (#2), worked on the “Trans Europe Express” idea, resulting in the piece “Planet Rock” - one of the most influential records in music. Bam called the sound of the record “Electro Funk”, or the “Electro sound”, and he cited James Brown, Parliment, and Sly and the Family Stone as the Building blocks of it’s composition. By September of that year “Planet Rock” went gold, and it continued to sell internationally throughout the 1980’s and into the 1990’s. In the autumn of 1982 Bam and other members of the Zulu nation (Which included Grand mixer DST, Fab 5 Freddy, Phase 11, Mr Freeze, Dondi, Futura 2000, and Crazy Legs, to name a few) made one of their first of many trips to Europe Visiting Le Batclan theatre in Paris, Bam and the other hip hoppers made a considerable impression on the young people there, something that would continue throughout his travells as he began to spread hip-hop culture told around the world. Bam’s second release around 1983 was “Looking for the perfect beat” then later “Renegades of Funk” both with the same Soul Sonic Force Bam began working with producer Bill Laswell at Jean Karakos’s Celluloid Records, where he developed and placed two groups on the label Time Zone and Shango. He did “wildstyle” with Time Zone, and in 1984 he did a duet with punkrocker John Lydon and Time Zone, titled “World Destruction” Shango’s Album. Shango Funk Theology was also released by the label in 1984. That same year Bam and other hip-hop celebrities appeared in the movie Beat Street. Bam also made a landmark recording with James Brown, titled “Unity”. It was admirably billed in music industry circles as “The Godfather of Soul meets the Godfather of hip-hop”.

Around October 1985 Bam and other music stars worked on the antiapartheid album Sun City with Little Steven Van Zandt, Run DMC, and Lou Reed. During 1988 Bam recorded another landmark piece as Africa Bambatta and Family. The work featured none Hendryx, UB 40, Boy George, George Clinton, Bootsy Collins, and yellowman, and it was titled The Light. Bam had recorded a few other works with Family three years earlier, one titled “Funk You” in 85, and the other titled Beware (The Funk is Everywhere) in 1986. In 1990 Bam made Life magazine’s “Most Important Americans of the 20th Century” issue. He was also involved in the antiapartheid work “Hip Hop Artists Against Apartheid” for Warlock Records. He Teamed with the Jungle Brothers to record the album Return to Planet Rock ( The Second coming). Around the same period, Bam was involved in organizing a concert at Wembley Stadium in London for the A.N.C (African National Congress), in honour of Nelson Mandela’s release from prison. The concert brought together performances by British and American rappers, and also introduced both nelson and Winnie Mandela and the A.N.C. to hip-hop audiences. In relation to the event, the recording ndodemnyama South Africa helped raise approximately $30,000 for the A.N.C. Bam also helped to raise funds for the organization in Italy. In 1991 Bam received some notice for his remix work on the group EMP’s goldsingle “Unbelievable”. He also did an Album for the Italian Label DFC (Dance Floor Corporation), titled 1990-2000. The Decade of Darkness. By 1992 Bam had his own Planet Rocks Records label, releasing Time Zone’s Thy Will “By” Funk LP in 1993.Bam’s Time Zone recorded the single “What’s the name of this nation?........Zulu!” for Profile Records. Toward 1994 Bam regrouped his Soul Sonic Force for the album ominous Isthumus. In that same year he began deejaying on radio station Hot 97 FM in NewYork City on Fridays ,hosting the show “Old School at Noon” Sewed singles ,”Planet Rock” by Afrika Bambatta and the Soul Sonic Force (1982 ,Tommy Boy);”Looking for the perfect beat” ,”Renegades of Funk” (1983, Tommy Boy). Selected albums/CD’s;World Destruction by Time Zone (Iraq ;released 1992 ,Metrofone 72661);The Light (1985 ,Capitol 90157),Planet Rock (1986, Tommy Boy 1007),;1990-2000;The Decade Of Darkness, by Afrika Bambaataa (1991 ,DFC?EMI 1062 );Thy Will “B” Funk by Afrika Bemata Presents Time Zone (1992,Planet Rock.) Collaboration with Leftfield called “Afrika Shox” (Sony Music U.K.) 1999 Collaboration with Uberzone called “2Kool 4Skool” (City Of Angels) 1999 Collaboration with Westbam called “Aghartha” (Low Spirits) 1999

AFRIKA BAMBAATAA’S FUNKOGROPHY

AFRIKA BAMBATTAA AND THE COSMIC FORCE “ZULU NATION THROWDOWN PART 1” 1980 (12 INCH)
AFRIKA BAMBAATTA AND THE JAZZY FIVE (5) “JAZZY SENSATION” 1981 (12 INCH)
AFRIKA BAMBAATAA AND THE SOUL SONIC FORCE “PLANET ROCK” 1982 (12 INCH)
“LOOKING FOR THE PERFECT BEAT” 1982 (12 INCH) “RENEGADES OF FUNK” 1984/1985 (12 INCH) “FRANTIC SITUATION” 1984 (12 INCH) “PLANET ROCK THE ALBUM 1986 (LP) “RETURN TO PLANET ROCK” 1990 (12 INCH) FEATURING THE JUNGLE BROTHERS “DON’TSTOP PLANET ROCK” 1992 (EP) REMIXES “ZULU NATION THROWDOWN” 1980 (12 INCH) “PLANET ROCK” 1996 (12 INCH) REMAKE “LOST GENERATION” 1996 (LP) “ROCK THE HOUSE” 1997 (EP) “PLANET ROCK” 1998 (EP) REMAKE REMIXES

AFRIKA BAMBATTA AND THE UNIVERSAL ZULU NATION

“HIP-HOP/ FUNK/ DANCE CLASSICS VOL.1” 1991 (LP) FEATURING THE BATTLE OF THE COLD CRUSH VERSES GRAND WIZZARD THEODORE AND THE FANTASTIC 5 MC’S LIVE AT HARLEM WORLD/ BRONX RIVER CENTRE
“HIP HOP/ FUNK/ DANCE CLASSICS VOL.2” 1992 (LP)
“HIP HOP/ FUNK/ DANCE CLASSICS VOL.3” 1993 (LP)
“THE ULTIMATE MIX” 1996 (LP) FEATURING THE GODFATHERS OF RAP MELE MEL, KURTIS BLOW, GRANDMASTER FLASH, PAPA G, ILLBREAD, SHARISSA DAWES
“WE FUNK THIS PARTY OUT” 1996 (12 INCH) FEATURING MELE MEL, KURTIS BLOW, GRANDMASTER FLASH
HIP HOP ARTIST AGAINST APARTHEID “NDODEMNY AMNA (FREE SOUTH AFRICA)” 1989 (12 INCH) FEATURING X CLAN, QUEEN LATIFA, SHANGO, TASHAWN, REVOLUCIEN, GRAND PUPA, KINGS OF SWING, UTFO, MALIBU, MASTER ROB, JUNGLE BROTHERS, POSITIVE K, ISIS, KID SEVILLE, ARTHUR 4X, LAKIM SHABAZZ, DIAMOND D, BRAND NUBIAN AUDIO TWO, AND MANY OTHERS UNITED ARTIST AGAINST APARTHEID
“SUN CITY” 1985 (12 INCH) FEATURING BRUCE SPRINGSTEIN, FAT BOYS, RUN DMC, PETER WOLF, LITTLE STEVEN, EDDIE KENDRIKS, KURTIS BLOW, PETER GABRIEL, ARTHUR BAKER AND MANY OTHERS THE GRAND RAP MASTERS
“JINGLE BELLS/ DECK THE HALLS” 1994 (12 INCH)
“WHAT’S THE NAME OF THIS NATION? ZULU/ HOLD ON, I’M COMING/ GHOST” 1993 (12 INCH)
“THROW YA FUNKY HANDS UP/ DOWN WITH THE NATION” 1995 (12 INCH)
“FUNKY BEEPER/ GODFATHER” 1996 (12 INCH)
“WARLOCKS AND WITCHES, COMPUTER CHIPS, MICRO CHIPS AND YOU” 1996 (LP)
NU SOUNDS AND AFRICA BAMBATTA “BODY SLAM” 1990 (12 INCH)
AFRIKA BAMBATTA AND JAMES BROWN “UNITY PARTS 1-6” 1984 (12 INCH)
AFRIKA BAMBATTA AND ENZO AVITABLE “STREET HAPPINESS” 1989 (12 INCH)
SHANGO “SHANGO FUNK THEOLOGY” 1984 (LP)
“ZULU GROOVE” 1984 (12 INCH)
SHANGO MESSAGE 1984 (12 INCH)
“YOU’RE THE ONE” 1991 (12 INCH) FEATURING THE FUNK QUEENS
AFRIKA BAMBATTA AND ADAMSKI “HELL BELOW” 1992 (12 INCH)
KHAYAN AND THE NEW WORLD POWER “JAZZIN” 1996 (LP)
“HAPPY/ JUMP ITALIA” 1995 (12 INCH)
“FEEL THE VIBE” 1994 (12 INCH) AFRIKA BAMBATTA
“PUPUNANNY” 1994 (12 INCH)
“PUPUNANNY” 1994 (12 INCH) REMIX
“FEELING IRIE” 1993 (12 INCH)
“FEELING IRIE” 1993 (12 INCH) REMIX
“GOLDEN DANCE CLASSICS” 1995 (CD ALBUM) THE 12 INCH MIXES

AFRIKA BAMBATTA AND FAMILY

“FUNK YOU” 1985 (12 INCH)
“BAMBATTA’S THEME/ TENSION” 1986 (12 INCH)
“BEWARE THE FUNK IS EVERYWHERE” 1985 (LP)
“THE LIGHT” 1988 (LP)
“RECKLESS” 1988 (12 INCH) FEATURING UB 40
“SHO NUFF FUNKY” 1988 (12 INCH) FEATURING SLUGGO
“SHOUT IT OUT/ TELL ME WHEN YOU NEED IT AGAIN” 1988 (12 INCH) FEATURING SLUGGO
“GET UP AND DANCE” 1991 (12 INCH)
“GET UP AND DANCE” 1991 (12 INCH) REMIX
“GET UP AND DANCE” 1991 (12 INCH) TECHNO MIX
“SOCA FEVER/ ELECTRO FUNK EXPRESS” 1991/92 (12 INCH)
“SAY IT LOUD (I’M BLACK AND PROUD)’ 1991 (12 INCH)
“POWER BOY POWER/ SAVED THE WORLD” 1992 (12 INCH)
“FUNKY HEROES” 1992 (12 INCH)
“ THE DECADE OF DARKNESS” 1991 (LP)
“UNIVERSAL FUTURE FUNK VOL.1” 1998 (LP)
LOS CHUNGUITOS AND AFRIKA BAMBATTA “POR EL AIREVA” 1991 (12 INCH) ETNIC MIX TIME ZONE
“THE WILD STYLE” 1983 (12 INCH)
“WORLD DESTRUCTION” 1984 (12 INCH) FEATURING JOHN LYDON
“SHAKE FRAPPE” 1987 (12 INCH)
“THY WILL BE FUNK” 1992 (LP)
“ZULU WAR CHANT/ TIME TO GET OPEN” 1992 (12 INCH)
“THE 40 OZ CREW/ VERY SPECIAL” 1992 (12 INCH)