Afrika Bambaataa is an American hip hop artist, DJ, and producer. He's known for his work in hip hop music, especially the Universal Zulu Nation (UZN) crew, which he founded with his friend DJ Kool Herc in 1973.
His work has been released on various labels, most notably his own independent record label, Zulu Nation Music. Bambaataa was also the co-founder of the World Party (WP), an influential hip hop collective which operated in New York City in the 1980s
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Bambaataa was born Gary Cherone on November 9, 1953 , in Harlem, Manhattan . His mother named him after Gary Gilmore, an executed murderer who had written a letter to his mother before his execution; Gary's mother had sent it to her husband, who read it to their children. Cherone became involved with hip hop music at age 12 when he met DJ Kool Herc while attending high school in Harlem .
The two became close friends and a group called the "Soul Sonic Force" was formed by them and two other teenagers. In 1973 they renamed themselves "The Universal Zulu Nation". More members were added and the collective gained recognition throughout New York City for their parties held at venues such as Club Sha Rock and The Main Point.
In 1975, inspired by a visit from Egyptian spiritual leader Imam Warith Deen Mohammed , they decided to organize a musical event that would be free of charge to attendees to protest what they saw as attempts by large record labels to control what was being said about black culture through censorship and revenue sharing. They did so by forming a new organization called the Zulu Nation . The name derived from Bambaataa's interest in Africa .
The party was held on October 12 at the Paul Robeson Auditorium in Harlem and featured performances by several artists including Afrika Bambaataa himself and fellow UZN members Grandmaster Melle Mel Disco Daddy Acetone Kool G Rap Scorpio Skywalker , DJs Grand Wizard Theodore Kid Creole , and Mr. Magic , MCs MC Tee , Treach of Naughty By Nature , Keith LeBlanc of Public Enemy , DJ Kid Capri , Rick Rubin and Sheik Akbar of Shabazz Palaces , and many others. Afterward there were battles between Universal Zulu Nation members and others including the former Black Panthers Party "Panthers" and US military veterans protesting against what they felt was glorifying drug use