Afrika Bambaataa is a bona fide originator and pioneer, named by Time Magazine as one of the "Most Important Americans of the 20th Century". Bam (as he is affectionately known) has been instrumental in the creation of Hip Hop music and culture as we know it today. He is respectfully known as the "Grandfather", "Godfather" and “The Amen Ra” of Hip Hop culture, as well as the “Father of The Electro Funk Sound”, and is world renowned for his illustrious DJing and recording career spanning almost half a century.
Bam has received numerous awards for his work to date. He was honored as the very first person to be presented with the Billboard Founders of Hip Hop Award in 2005; in 2006 he was inducted into The Bronx Walk of Fame where his name appears on a street plaque permanently attached to a lamppost along the Grand Concourse in front of the Supreme Court House; that same year Bam was honored at the VH1 Hip Hop Honours which broadcast around the world to millions of viewers; and in 2007 Bam was nominated for induction in to the prestigous Rock n Roll Hall of Fame along with the Beastie Boys and Madonna.
Today, Bam continues his work spreading messages of peace and education throughout the world through music. He continues to tour the globe as a DJ, performing at festivals worldwide such as Exit Festival, Serbia; Montreux Jazz Festival, Switzerland; and Rock In Rio Festival, Brasil. He continues to educate by speaking at prestigious halls like the British Film Institute, The British Library and recently appeared at a Conference for Global Peace in Bogota, Colombia. Continuing to release music, and committed to keeping the true essence of Hip Hop culture alive with his philosophy of diversity through unity both musically and spiritually, Afrika Bambataa is a true maverick that has helped shape the cultural history of America for the last 50 years.