Afrika Bambaataa, the American DJ, rapper, and producer who played a pivotal role in shaping hip-hop culture, has passed away at the age of 67.
According to TMZ, Bambaataa died early Thursday morning in Pennsylvania due to complications related to cancer.
Born Lance Taylor on April 17, 1957, in the Bronx, New York, Bambaataa was a founding figure of hip-hop culture, alongside DJ Kool Herc and Grandmaster Flash.
He founded the Universal Zulu Nation in the early 1970s, aiming to transform former gang members into a positive cultural movement centered on peace, unity, love, and creativity through music and knowledge.
Bambaataa's 1982 track Planet Rock, created with Soul Sonic Force, blended hip-hop with electronic influences and had a lasting impact on global dance music.
