American rapper and DJ Afrika Bambaataa has died at the age of 67 in Philadelphia from complications caused by cancer, the Associated Press reports, citing the artist's lawyer.
The Bronx-born musician, whose real name was Lance Taylor, is considered one of the pioneers of hip-hop, The Guardian reports. He founded Universal Zulu Nation and played a key role in popularizing the genre in the 1980s, including with the song "Planet Rock" (1982), which influenced the development of electro-funk.
Afrika Bambaataa has collaborated with various artists and participated in musical projects, including the album "Sun City" (1985), recorded as part of Artists United Against Apartheid, a group of musicians who united to protest against apartheid in South Africa. His last album was released in 2004.
The musician faced charges of sexual abuse of minors, which he denies. In 2025, one of the cases was tried in absentia and the musician lost it after failing to appear in court.