Patience is a virtue. With that said, some folks just don’t have any to spare. One of those people includes the alleged sexual assault victim of Afrika Bambaataa (real name Lance Taylor).
After filing the claim in 2021, the unnamed complainant (referred to as John Doe) hoped to resolve the matter quickly. However, as of 2024, the case has not yet been determined in court. Given how speedy Cassie’s bombshell lawsuit against Diddy was settled, Doe is now urging its presiding judge to make a decision.
In court documents exclusively obtained by HipHopDX (a fellow subsidiary of Warner Music Group), Doe filed a petition through their attorney on March 28 to make their request for the Bronx judge to sign the order. Read a snippet of the petition below.
This firm represents the Plaintiff in the above-referenced matter. Plaintiff filed a Motion for Default Judgment (motion sequence #3) against Def. Taylor on August 1, 2022. Plaintiff is once again respectfully inquiring as to when the Court will issue a decision and Order.
Afrika Bambaataa alleged sexual assault victim pushes for decision in 2-year-old lawsuit pic.twitter.com/Htjams9Ntv
The outlet shared that the initial sexual assault case allegedly favoring Doe was given to the judge in 2022. since then, the case has been “sitting on the official’s desk” unacknowledged.
As of March 30, the judge in the case has not yet taken action in John Doe’s filing.
The year following the birth of hip hop, 1974, marked the emergence of new influencers who would push the genre’s boundaries further. Afrika Bambaataa, Grandmaster Flash, and Grandmaster Caz, all admirers of DJ Kool Herc’s innovative techniques, began their own journey in the realm of hip-hop. As a result, their influence and contributions would take the burgeoning music genre to new heights.
Afrika Bambaataa: The Zulu Nation’s Foundation
Afrika Bambaataa performs on stage at The Venue, London, UK, 23rd November 1982. (Photo by David Corio/Redferns)
Afrika Bambaataa, born Kevin Donovan, was more than just a hip hop artist; he was a visionary. Although there are conflicting timelines, most believe that in the mid-70s, he established the Zulu Nation—a collective of graffiti artists, breakdancers, and music enthusiasts. However, in 1974, he began hosting parties of his own. Bambaataa’s vision was to use the energy of hip-hop to unite the youth, creating a platform for self-expression and camaraderie.
Grandmaster Flash 1982 (Photo by Chris Walter/WireImage)
Born Joseph Saddler, Grandmaster Flash was another pivotal figure in the hip hop scene of 1974. Like Bambaataa, Flash was heavily influenced by DJ Kool Herc’s unique style. Flash’s innovative DJing techniques, including cutting, mixing, and scratching, quickly earned him fame and respect in the hip hop community.
Grandmaster Caz: The Lyrical Maestro
Grandmaster Caz during Interscope Records Presents “The Next New York Showdown” at Fulton State Park in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage)
Grandmaster Caz, also known as Curtis Fisher, rose to prominence in 1974. He was not only an exceptional DJ but also a gifted lyricist. His ability to weave together intricate rhymes made him an influential figure in the evolution of hip-hop.
UNITED KINGDOM – NOVEMBER 23: THE VENUE Photo of AFRIKA BAMBAATA, Afrika Bambaataa at The Venue, London. 11-23-1982 (Photo by David Corio/Redferns)
The year 1974 was a time of growth and expansion for hip hop. The genre, initially born out of block parties and local gatherings, began spreading throughout the Bronx and beyond. The influence of DJ Kool Herc continued to echo in the work of artists like Bambaataa, Flash, and Caz, who took his innovative techniques and made them their own.
Conclusion/TLDR
As we continue our countdown to the 50th anniversary of hip hop, we reflect on the genre’s second year. 1974 was a significant milestone, marking the rise of new influencers who would go on to shape the direction of hip hop in the years to come. From Afrika Bambaataa’s Zulu Nation to Grandmaster Flash’s innovative DJing techniques and Grandmaster Caz’s lyrical prowess, the contributions of these artists cannot be overstated.
Their work in 1974 set the stage for hip hop’s evolution, showing us that the genre was more than just music—it was a cultural revolution, a form of self-expression, and a tool for uniting communities. As we move closer to the 50th anniversary, we remember 1974 as the year hip hop began to find its voice and assert its place in the world of music.
On this day in Hip-Hop history, one of the most important films for Hip Hop culture was released in theaters around the globe. The Stan Lathan-directed Beat Street was a film that was able to help Hip Hop culture as a whole breakthrough into the mainstream market and showed a side of the scene that those outside of New York might not have ever heard about.
The plot follows Kenny Kirkland aka DJ Double K, a young man aspiring to be one of New York’s top DJs. Through performances, trials, and tribulations, Kenny is able to grow as a DJ and reach his goal of performing at the famous Roxy club in New York. This film’s narrative of perseverance and struggle to achieve your dreams inspired a generation to grow into many of the artists who have become prominent figures in Hip Hop today.
The film includes many of Hip Hop’s pioneering acts and personalities including Afrika Bambaataa and The Soul Sonic Force, The Treacherous Three(including Kool Moe Dee), the Rock Steady Crew, the New York City Breakers, Doug E. Fresh and many more of the culture’s major influencers of that era.
The film’s commercial success stretched past the boundaries of this country to influence the cultures across the planet. Grossing $16,595,791 in the box office, this film was just as big a hit in Europe as it was in the United States, specifically in Germany. It is said that this film single-handedly sparked the boom of Hip Hop culture in both West Germany in a time when the East and West were still separated. The film also helped the spread of graffiti culture in Across East and West Germany along with the United States.
Mentioned in songs by Jay Electronica, The Notorious B.I.G., AZ, and Ras Kass, it’s obvious that this picture transcended generations to inspire rap music at every tier. If you have not already, make sure you watch and see what for yourself what it was that inspired so many to take this genre that is so loved from an inner-city fad to an international cultural craze.
Hip Hop co-founder Afrika Bambaataa and his role as the co-founder of the Unversal Hip Hop Museum has sparked some controversy, with an advocacy group demanding the defunding of the recently built museum because of the Hip Hop pioneer’s sexual abuse allegations.
This week, a group called Hip Hop Stands With Survivors put out a letter calling NYC Mayor Eric Adams to halt all taxpayer funding that has been funneled into the UHHM, as well as fire the organization’s Executive Director Rocky Bucano. The letter also calls for all companies such as Microsoft to end their financial relationship with the UHHM.
The letter says, “We expect his resignation or for the board to vote him out of the museum’s leadership and for the museum to sever all ties with Bucano, Bambaataa, and the Zulu Nation.”
n 2019, the State of New York donated a $3.5million grant to the museum. It’s scheduled to open some time in 2023 or 2024 in celebration of Hip Hop’s 50th anniversary.
The protest has been taken to the streets, with an immediate response coming from Mayor Adams.
“The Universal Hip Hop Museum assured the administration that they cut ties with the Universal Zulu Nation and that Afrika Bambaataa has not had a role at the Universal Hip Hop Museum since 2016,” Adams said in a statement.
Executive Director Bucano also released a statement, denying that Bambaataa was ever a board member of the museum and that he was never a member of the Zulu Nation.
His statement says, “The Universal Hip Hop Museum and Mr. Bucano condemn all acts of acts of violence and abuse. I would like to make it clear that Afrika Bambaataa has not had a role at the Universal Hip Hop Museum since 2016. I and the Universal Hip Hop Museum are not party to any activities affiliated with the Universal Zulu Nation I affirm that the Universal Hip Hop Museum is committed to its mission to empower, educate, and uplift communities.” It goes on saying, “While it is true that Afrika Bambaataa was a founding member of the museum, he was removed from any involvement with the museum as soon as the allegations surfaced. He has never been a board member, advisory board member or volunteer. I have never been a member of the Universal Zulu Nation nor am I an agent of the organization or Afrika Bambaataa. The assertion that UHHM is a financial front for the Universal Zulu Nation, Afrika Bambaataa, or other Universal Zulu Nation members, is irresponsible, false, and misdirected.”
Bambaataa was hit with several sexual abuse allegations going back to the 1970s, but has maintained his innocence.
His attorney, Vivian K. Tozaki, issued a statement in 2016 saying, “Recently, defamatory statements were published seeking to harm my client’s reputation so as to lower him in the estimation of the community while deterring others from associating or dealing with him. The statements show a reckless disregard for the truth, were published with knowledge of their falsity, and are being made by a lesser-known person seeking publicity. Valuable cultural resources, such as Afrika Bambaataa’s good name and time, should never be used to assist a mediocre person’s asinine quest for social media popularity and superficial gain.”
Hip-hop pioneer Afrika Bambaataa, who was accused in 2016 of molesting a 15-year-old in 1980, is being sued for sex trafficking by a man who says he was just 12 years old at the time of the abuse, according to Pitchfork. Pitchfork has obtained documents filed New York State Supreme Court on August 4 on behalf of the anonymous accuser claiming that from 1991-1995, Bambaataa repeatedly abused him and arranged for him to be abused by other adult men. Bambaataa would have been around 33 at the time the alleged abuse began.
The lawsuit was filed under New York’s 2019 Child Victims Act allowing victims of sexual abuse to sue their abusers past the statute of limitations of the crimes themselves. In this case, the accuser, a Bronx native identified in the documents as John Doe, says Bambaataa “repeatedly sexually abused and sex trafficked” him beginning at the Bronx River Houses public housing project, where both lived at the time.
The suit claims Bambaataa “eventually began to inappropriately touch [Doe] in his private areas while [Doe] was in [Bambaataa’s apartment],” then eventually encouraged [Doe] to watch pornographic videos while in [Bambaataa]’s apartment,” eventually progressing to trafficking as “[Bambaataa] would transport [Doe] to other locations and offer [him] for sex to other adult men. During said encounters [Bambaataa] would watch as [Doe] was sodomized by other adult men.”
The suit claims John Doe has suffered “physical injury, severe and permanent emotional distress, mental anguish, depression and embarrassment,” and charges assault, civil battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligent infliction of emotional distress, and gross negligence. Bambaataa has yet to respond to the lawsuit as of press time; however, after being accused of similar charges by Ronald Savage in 2016, he issued a statement denying the accusations. Three other men came forward in the weeks thereafter, prompting Bambaataa to step down from his role as leader of the Zulu Nation awareness organization.
The Nation is also named in the current lawsuit, but through a statement to Metropolis, distanced themselves from the embattled hip-hop pioneer. “Nothing has changed since 2016 when these decades-ago accusations first surfaced,” it reads. “This is a personal matter for Afrika Bambaataa and his lawyers to deal with.”
Music icon Afrika Bambaataa and the Zulu Nation are making headlines for the wrong reasons again. New reports claim a Child Victims Act (CVA) lawsuit has been filed against the hip-hop mogul years after initial accusations went viral. Afrika Bambataa + Zulu Nation Sued According to reports, Bambaataa was recently served the lawsuit against himself […]
