Hip-hop would not sound as it does today if it weren’t for Afrika Bambaataa, bottom line. By 1977, Bambaataa, inspired by DJ Kool Herc and after getting his first set of tables loaned to him from Disco King Mario, had begun organizing block parties all around the South Bronx, and he was soon renowned as one of the best DJs in the business. 1982 was a critical year
for Bambaataa: he organized the first ever European hip hop tour and he released Jazzy Sensation on Tommy Boy Records under the name Afrika Bambaataa and the Soulsonic Force. On that album is one of the most
iconic hip-hop singles ever, “Planet Rock.” In the two decades since then, Bambaataa has released over two dozen albums. In addition to his contribution to the existence of hip-hop as we know it today, he has been credited with being responsible for the creation of a plethora of other genres including electro, funk, techno, and house music.