Hip-hop pioneer Afrika Bambaataa dies at 68, leaving a complex legacy

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Source: NBC News
Hip-hop pioneer Afrika Bambaataa dies at 68, leaving a complex legacy
Photo: NBC News
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Afrika Bambaataa, a foundational figure in hip-hop and founder of the Universal Zulu Nation, died at 68 in Pennsylvania from prostate cancer; he helped shape early electro‑inflected hip-hop, popularizing breakbeats and the use of the TR-808, and promoted a movement centered on peace, unity and fun. His legacy is complicated by multiple men accusing him of sexual abuse in the 1980s and 1990s, which he denied, and the Universal Zulu Nation apologized in 2016 for not fully disclosing the abuse.

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