Afrika Bambaataa — a rapper and DJ who helped pioneer hip hop — has died … BlkCosmo has learned.Sources with direct knowledge tell BlkCosmo … he died from complications of cancer at about 3 AM today in Pennsylvania.
Bambaataa was born in The Bronx …. and he joined the local gang the Black Spades, quickly rising up the ranks in the gang to the position of “warlord.”Beginning in the 1970s, Bambaataa began hosting parties where hip hop flourished … which quickly grew to become huge block parties in the South Bronx.Bambaataa released his first single in 1980 titled “Zulu Nation Throwdown” — a reference to the Universal Zulu Nation, an art collective for socially conscious rappers, graffiti artists, B-boys, and more people involved in hip hop culture — and his 1982 track “Planet Rock” rose up the ranks to reach Number 4 on the U.S. R&B chart.
In 1985, Bambaataa helped make the anti-apartheid album “Sun City” with several huge artists … including Joey Ramone, Run-D.M.C., U2, and many more.Near the end of his life, Afrika Bambaataa ran into a host of legal issues … after multiple men accused him of sexually abusing them in the 1980s and 1990s. He was forced to pay out a settlement in 2025 to a man accusing him of sex trafficking him in the 1990s after a judge issued a default judgement when he didn’t show up to court.The pioneering hip-hop artist and founder of the Universal Zulu Nation died from cancer complications in Pennsylvania early Thursday morning at age 67.
WNBA Hall of Famer Sheryl Swoopes is changing the narrative on Black women's health by publicly sharing her mammogram journey and advocating for early detection.
Lil Rel Howery flips the script on Katt Williams' Netflix roast, delivering a masterclass in stand-up clapbacks at The Comedy Store. Discover why this moment redefines the rules of engagement in Black Hollywood.
Looks like real love still exists — because Judge Mathis and his wife Linda Reese Mathis are officially back on track and stronger than ever. According to court documents, Linda has formally dismissed her divorce filing, putting an end to the case and closing that chapter for good.
Nia Long has been spotted with a mystery wealthy Caucasian businessman in Atlanta while filming the Netflix romantic drama Don't Ever Wonder alongside Larenz Tate, marking a departure from her usual dating preferences.
