Pioneering hip hop DJ and artist Afrika Bambaataa has died due to complications from cancer. TMZ was the first with the news, reporting that Bambaataa had died early this morning “in Pennsylvania.”
Founder of the Universal Zulu Nation, Bambaataa was born Lance Taylor. From the Bronx, Bambaataa was a towering influence in hip hop and nascent DJ culture before achieving mainstream success with his 1982 track “Planet Rock.”
The Hip Hop Alliance, which advocates for “artist rights, royalties, benefits and respect,” issued an official statement signed by executive director Kurtis Blow to “acknowledge the transition of a foundational architect of Hip Hop culture, Afrika Bambaataa.”
The group credits Bambaataa with helping “shape the early identity of hip hop as a global movement rooted in peace, unity, love and having fun.”
The Alliance also refers to the allegations of child molestation that emerged publicly in the mid-2010s. Ronald Savage, a Bronx community activist and former music industry executive, accused Bambaataa of molesting him several times when Savage was 15 years old. (According to the Guardian, Savage later explained he was underage but had been using a fake ID when he met Bambaataa at a club.) Multiple other allegations would surface, all from men who accused Bambaataa of molesting them in their youth. Bambaataa categorically denied the accusations but was removed from leadership by the Universal Zulu Nation. Last year, Bambaataa was served with a summary judgment after failing to contest a civil lawsuit by a man who accused him of sex trafficking in the 1990s; TMZ claims Bambaataa paid a settlement as a result of the case.
“We recognize that his legacy is complex,” the Alliance wrote, “and has been the subject of serious conversations within our community. As an organization committed to truth, accountability, and the preservation of Hip Hop culture, we believe it is important to hold space for all voices while continuing to uplift what empowers and protects the people.”
Don't Stay In 
Get on our guest list for news from 5 Mag and you'll never miss a thing. It's free and we don't sell your shit. 
