Rapper and DJ Afrika Bambaataa dead at 67

Hip hop pioneer Afrika Bambaataa has died.

The rapper and DJ died from complications of cancer on April 9 in Pennsylvania, TMZ reported.

He was 67 years old.

The influential musician’s friend and fellow member of the Zulu Nation, Mick Benzo, announced his death on Instagram.

“Two days ago, I spoke with Afrika Bambaataa and found him in high spirits. Today, however, I began receiving calls about his passing,” he wrote. “Concerned, I reached out to him but received no response. My worries deepened, and I was heartbroken to learn it was true—he had peacefully fallen asleep and did not wake up.”

“It is with profound sorrow that we announce the passing of Afrika Bambaataa, a pioneering architect and global ambassador of Hip Hop culture.”

Bambaataa’s last Instagram post was on March 18, when he wished the late Sly Stone a “happy heavenly birthday.”

Bambaataa, whose real name was Lance Taylor, grew up in the Bronx in New York, and gained popularity hosting parties in the ’70s.

In the late ’70s, he formed the Universal Zulu Nation, a group of socially and politically conscious rappers and other artists involved in hip hop culture.

He released his iconic single, “Planet Rock,” in 1982, which reached No. 4 on the US R&B chart.

Later in life, multiple men accused him of sexually abusing them in the ’80s and ’90s. He denied the accusations in 2016, telling Rolling Stone that they were “baseless and are a cowardly attempt to tarnish my reputation and legacy in hip-hop at this time.”

In a statement on Thursday, the Hip Hop Alliance — hip hop’s first labor force organization led by rap icons Kurtis Blow, Chuck D and KRS-One — acknowledged his complicated legacy.

“As the founder of the Universal Zulu Nation, Afrika Bambaataa helped shape the early identity of Hip Hop as a global movement rooted in peace, unity, love, and having fun,” the statement reads. “His vision transformed the Bronx into the birthplace of a culture that now reaches every corner of the world.”

“His imprint on Hip Hop history is undeniable and will forever remain part of the culture’s origin story,” it continued. “At the same time, we recognize that his legacy is complex and has been the subject of serious conversations within our community.”

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