US star Afrika Bambaataa, whose real name was Lance Taylor, was a huge star in the 1980s
21:10, 09 Apr 2026Updated 21:41, 09 Apr 2026
DJ Afrika Bambaataa performs at The Million Man Mosh benefit concert in 2012(Image: WireImage)
One of hip-hop’s pioneers has died in the early hours of the morning, according to reports. US star Afrika Bambaataa, whose real name was Lance Taylor, was a huge star in the 1980s and is widely considered one of the founding fathers of the genre.
Sources told TMZ that the DJ, rapper and music producer died from complications of cancer at around 3am today – just days away from his birthday on 17 April – in Pennsylvania, USA.
The music star released a series of electro tracks in the 1980s, most notably the hit Planet Rock, that defined the genre and influenced the development of hip hop culture. He is often named as one of the ‘Holy Trinity’ of founders alongside DJ Kool Herc and Grandmaster Flash.
Afrika Bambaataa appearing in Ibiza in the 2000s(Image: Redferns)
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In 1985, that star collaborated on anti-apartheid album Sun City alongside Bono, Bob Geldof, Lou Reed and Bruce Springsteen.
Bambaataa’s legacy was severely tarnished in his later years following numerous allegations of child sexual abuse and sexual trafficking dating back to the 1970s and 1980s.
In 2025, he paid a settlement to a man who accused him of sex trafficking him for four years in the 1990s. The payout was triggered after Bambaataa failed to show up to court meaning a default judgement was made.