Afrika Bambaataa preview
SHOW CANCELED DUE TO ILLNESS
Many of us instantly recognize the synth bleeps and hooks of ’80s hits “Planet Rock” and “Looking For The Perfect Beat” and for good reason — Afrika Bambaattaa & The Soulsonic Force put out some of the catchiest electro-flavored hip-hop ever. But Bambaataa and his influence in music reaches well beyond his own recordings.
As one of the founding fathers of hip-hop, Bambaataa was one of the first DJs to mix breaks (snippets) of various styles of records at public parties in the Bronx and throughout New York. In doing so, he invited gang members and anyone around to get down with the then new culture of hip-hop. Some 25 years later and he has continued to spread the notion that hip-hop is more than rap — that it’s a sum of many sonic parts. In Bambaataa’s recent DJ sets he has been heard mixing electro, ’70s funk, pop, and more. If there’s one consistency, Bambaataa prefers to keep his sets higher on the BPM counter so it would be wise to expect a party when he hits the stage. (Wednesday@The Mid with DJs Maker, Intel, Trew, and Shred One.)
– Max Herman
Category: Featured, Stage Buzz, Weekly
