Afrika Bambaataa, a pioneering figure in the development of hip-hop culture during the 1970s and 1980s, has died, according to a statement from the Universal Zulu Nation, the international hip-hop awareness organization he founded. The announcement was made on Thursday by Mickey Bentson, a friend and fellow member of the group, via social media. Details regarding the exact time, place, and cause of Bambaataa’s death have not been disclosed, though Bentson noted that he “peacefully fell asleep and did not wake up.”

Bambaataa, often referred to as the “godfather of hip-hop,” played a crucial role in shaping the early sound and ethos of the genre. Growing up in the Bronx River Houses, a public housing project in New York City’s Soundview neighborhood, he was initially involved with the street gang the Black Spades before turning his focus to music and community leadership. He is widely credited, along with contemporaries such as DJ Kool Herc and Grandmaster Flash, for helping to establish hip-hop’s foundation by popularizing DJing techniques that emphasized extending percussion breaks to fuel dance performances.

In addition to his work as a DJ and musician, Bambaataa founded the Universal Zulu Nation in the early 1970s. The organization sought to redirect street gang members toward peace and unity through hip-hop culture, which he defined as comprising four key elements: DJing, emceeing, breaking (breakdancing), and graffiti art. The Zulu Nation grew from local roots in the Bronx to a global presence, promoting hip-hop as a cultural movement rather than merely a musical genre.

Bambaataa’s musical style was noted for its eclectic influences, drawing from funk, salsa, electronic music, and more. He gained acclaim for tracks such as “Looking for the Perfect Beat” (1983) and “Unity” (1984), a collaboration with James Brown. Throughout his career, he remained active in recording and releasing music, including revisiting electro sounds in the 1990s and beyond.

However, Bambaataa’s legacy has been overshadowed in recent years by serious allegations of sexual abuse. Beginning in 2016, multiple men accused him of child sexual abuse and trafficking, claims he denied. A civil lawsuit filed in 2021 alleged that he exploited his position within the Universal Zulu Nation to groom and abuse minors. While some earlier accusers retracted their statements, further accusations persisted, casting a complex shadow over his contributions to hip-hop.

Despite these controversies, many within the hip-hop community and beyond acknowledge Bambaataa’s influence in transforming the Bronx from a battleground to a cultural hub and his role in laying the groundwork for one of the world’s most influential cultural movements.