Afrika Bambaataa, one of the founding figures of hip-hop culture, has died at the age of 67, as confirmed by the Hip Hop Alliance.

In a statement, the organization said Bambaataa helped shape a global movement rooted in peace, unity, love, and having fun, paying tribute to his role in the emergence of hip-hop as both a musical genre and a cultural force.

Born Lance Taylor in the Bronx, Bambaataa grew up during the era of the black liberation movement. In 1973, he co-founded the Universal Zulu Nation, an international hip-hop awareness group.

In his later years, Bambaataa's reputation was overshadowed by allegations of child sexual abuse and trafficking, which he denied.

TMZ, which was first to report his death, stated that the artist passed away in Pennsylvania due to complications from cancer.

Bambaataa was born to Jamaican and Barbadian immigrant parents and became a member of the Black Spades gang in his teens, using his leadership skills to form the Universal Zulu Nation, channeling youth culture away from violence and towards creativity.

His 1982 hit Planet Rock won him global recognition and is credited with shaping hip-hop in the 1980s.

According to Reverend Dr. Kurtis Blow Walker, executive director of Hip Hop Alliance, Bambaataa's vision for hip-hop transformed the Bronx into the birthplace of a culture that now reaches every corner of the world. Throughout the 1980s and beyond, he collaborated with various musicians, including James Brown and John Lydon, and participated in politically conscious projects like the anti-apartheid song Sun City in 1985.

Bambaataa led the Universal Zulu Nation until 2016, stepping down after allegations of sexual abuse surfaced from the 1980s and 1990s. He denied the accusations, claiming they were a cowardly attempt to tarnish his reputation.

In 2025, the rapper lost a civil case regarding child sexual abuse and trafficking after failing to appear in court. The Hip Hop Alliance acknowledged the allegations as complicating his musical legacy, which has been the subject of serious conversations within the community.