Afrika Bambaataa

From gang warlord intent on expanding the Bronx territory of the Black Spades to Kraftwerk-sampling proponent of peace, love and everything groovy, the life of hip-hop pioneer Afrika Bambaataa has been varied, to say the least. His rise from thug instigator to founder and chieftain of the Universal Zulu Nation – the first collective of socially conscious, politically aware rappers – is the stuff of New York folklore; however it is his legendary music that brings him to Melbourne this year.

Stemming from 1982’s Planet Rock, he has paved the way for decades of fusion between traditional hip-hop and progressive electro sounds. Artists from The Neptunes to Aphex Twin loudly voice their gratitude, and the ever-broadening hip-hop community holds him in high regard – in fact, this tour of Australia serves as a break from his three-year tenure as a visiting scholar at Cornell University’s Library, which houses the largest collection of historical hip-hop music in North America.

Don’t let the schoolbooks fool you though; this guy knows how to party, so get down to Laundry Bar for a night full of sweat, laughter and infectiously joyous beats.