Home Destinations Zululand Information Zulu History The History Of The Zulu Nation. Zulu history - The history of the Zulu Nation. Zulu history - The history of the Zulu Nation. Our Ancient Arena Southern Africa's contribution to the Cradle of Mankind is borne out by several important archaeological sites.not least the Border. His seminal 1982 single 'Planet Rock' with the Soulsonic Force pushed the boundaries of what rap could sound like, and the Universal Zulu Nation - which he founded and helped spread in the 1970s.
Artist Biography by John Bush
A seminal Bronx DJ during the 1970s, Afrika Bambaataa ascended to godfather status with 'Planet Rock,' the 1982 hip-hop classic that blended the beats of hip-hop with techno-pop futurism inspired by German pioneers Kraftwerk. Even before he began recording in 1980, Bambaataa was hip-hop's foremost DJ, an organizer and promoter of the large block parties during the mid- to late '70s that presaged the rise of rap. After the success of 'Planet Rock,' he recorded electro-oriented rap only sparingly, concentrating instead on fusion -- exemplified by his singles with ex-Sex PistolJohn Lydon and fellow godfather James Brown. Bambaataa had moved to the background by the late '80s (as far as hip-hop was concerned), but the rise of his Zulu Nation collective -- including De La Soul, Queen Latifah, A Tribe Called Quest, and the Jungle Brothers -- found him once more being tipped as one of rap's founding fathers.
Born in the Bronx on April 17, 1957, Afrika Bambaataa Aasim took his name from a 19th century Zulu chief. Beginning in 1977, Bambaataa began organizing block parties and breakdancing competitions around the Bronx. His excellent turntable techniques and knowledge of music led many to proclaim him the best DJ in the business (though Grandmaster Flash and DJ Kool Herc were more innovative), and his record debut -- as a producer -- came in 1980 with Soul Sonic Force's 'Zulu Nation Throwdown.' The single was a rallying cry for the Zulu Nation, a group of like-minded Afrocentric musicians who only gained fame in the late '80s but had been influencing the rise of hip-hop crews since the late '70s.
The Zulu Nation Was Founded By This Dj Youtube
Aside from more production credits on several later singles during 1980-1981, Afrika Bambaataa didn't become an actual recording artist until 1982. He signed with Tommy Boy Records and released his first single, 'Jazzy Sensation,' early that year. 'Planet Rock' followed in June and quickly exploded. Recorded with the help of producer/dancefloor authority Arthur Baker and assimilating the melody of Kraftwerk's 'Trans-Europe Express,' the single hit number four on the R&B charts (but missed the pop Top 40) and joined the Sugarhill Gang's 'Rapper's Delight' as one of the early classics of hip-hop. (Grandmaster Flash's 'The Message' followed just three months later.) In the single's wake came dozens of electro groups and recordings, though none touched the quality of 'Planet Rock' -- except, perhaps, Bambaataa's own follow-up, 'Looking for the Perfect Beat.' Out of those electro groups came several predominant dance styles of the 1980s and '90s: Detroit techno, Miami bass, and, to a more limited extent, Chicago house.