Rapper and DJ Afrika Bambaataa dead at 67

Hip hop pioneer Afrika Bambaataa has died.

The rapper and DJ died from complications of crab connected April 9 successful Pennsylvania, TMZ reported.

He was 67 years old.

The influential musician’s friend and chap personnel of nan Zulu Nation, Mick Benzo, announced his decease connected Instagram.

“Two days ago, I said pinch Afrika Bambaataa and recovered him successful precocious spirits. Today, however, I began receiving calls astir his passing,” he wrote. “Concerned, I reached retired to him but received nary response. My worries deepened, and I was heartbroken to study it was true—he had peacefully fallen dormant and did not aftermath up.”

“It is pinch profound sorrow that we denote nan passing of Afrika Bambaataa, a pioneering designer and world ambassador of Hip Hop culture.”

Bambaataa’s past Instagram station was connected March 18, erstwhile he wished nan precocious Sly Stone a “happy heavenly birthday.”

Bambaataa, whose existent sanction was Lance Taylor, grew up successful nan Bronx successful New York, and gained fame hosting parties successful nan ’70s.

In nan precocious ’70s, he formed nan Universal Zulu Nation, a group of socially and politically conscious rappers and different artists progressive successful hep hop culture.

He released his iconic single, “Planet Rock,” successful 1982, which reached No. 4 connected nan US R&B chart.

Later successful life, aggregate men accused him of sexually abusing them successful nan ’80s and ’90s. He denied nan accusations successful 2016, telling Rolling Stone that they were “baseless and are a cowardly effort to tarnish my estimation and bequest successful hip-hop astatine this time.”

In a connection connected Thursday, nan Hip Hop Alliance — hep hop’s first labour unit statement led by rap icons Kurtis Blow, Chuck D and KRS-One — acknowledged his analyzable legacy.

“As nan laminitis of nan Universal Zulu Nation, Afrika Bambaataa helped style nan early personality of Hip Hop arsenic a world activity rooted successful peace, unity, love, and having fun,” the connection reads. “His imagination transformed nan Bronx into nan birthplace of a civilization that now reaches each area of nan world.”

“His imprint connected Hip Hop history is undeniable and will everlastingly stay portion of nan culture’s root story,” it continued. “At nan aforesaid time, we admit that his bequest is analyzable and has been nan taxable of superior conversations wrong our community.”

“Today, we widen our condolences to each who were impacted by his life, his work, and his presence.”