Afrika Bambaataa says he would like to see Hip Hop get more involved in politics.
“Hopefully as we become more aware and we get into being intergalactic human beings, I hope to definitely see Hip Hop go into galactic as they start moving people into great places in space,” Afrika Bambaataa says during an interview with DJ Vlad. “I like to see Hip Hop on this planet get more into politics, so it won’t be no politricks, and to have health insurance and to think about keeping the culture alive and forming the federation of Hip Hop artists that would stand for each other when injustice happens to anyone on this planet.”
The South Bronx, New York deejay says that he is critical of many deejays today that only spin tracks from the radio.
“I feel once the record is hitting on the radio,” Bambaataa says, “it’s time to bring some other music to make it popular again. I’m definitely one who tries to take you through a musical journey when I deejay. I try to keep my ear to the street and everything I play must have the funk to it.”
The “Planet Rock” artist says that many musicians are starting to get paid to deejay, even though they barely mix the music.
“That’s become crazy now,” Bambaataa says in the interview. “Some of these deejays even in the techno and electro [world] are making phenomenal money when all they are doing is tweaking and we know some of these Hip Hop deejays can take this trance and techno and flip it and make the crowd go more crazier. There’s certain cliques in the music industry that dictate what’s gonna happen and putting money behind people who are gonna make it happen. “
He also says that he disagrees with anyone who says rappers have to be young in order to make music.
“I always thought that was silliness when you say something like that because you don’t tell Rod Stewart that he can’t make a funk record when he made ‘Do You Think I’m Sexy’ and you don’t tell Mick Jagger when he decided to go from rock to make ‘Miss You’ or ‘Hot Stuff,’” Afrika Bambaataa says. “You don’t tell none of these artists that they can’t do what they want to do, so why do you tell a Hip Hop artist that they must stop at 20 or 30 or 40 or 50 when you should have the same respect as a Frank Sinatra or Diana Ross in Hip Hop. If they still got it and they can funk it up, let it be.”
For additional Afrika Bambaataa coverage, watch the following DX Daily:
Real Hip Hop music is about love and truth and story telling and pain and Joy. Real Hip Hop balances lifes problems. With lifes answers to the problems. Rap music just tells the problem and gives no way out. It’s Real Christianity VS fake Christianity!
Oh lawd please do not equate hiphop to christianity your doing it a dis service.
A young person insulting someone by calling them ‘old’ is like a dude in the gym insulting someone by calling them fit. Don’t you realize that your number one function as a human being is survival? So how are you dissin’ someone who has survived longer than you? As far as what Bambataa is saying and has been saying for decades about hip-hop ‘uniting’, it’s never gonna happen. There’s so many ignorant southern rappers who are so deep into the slave mentality that they make it an impossibility. You can picture everyone coming together except for the Southern dudes, be honest. That’s not to say there aren’t any good or intelligent Southern rappers, but you have to sift through 500 Lil’ Flappy’s to find one, and there are more and more on the scene every day perpetuating ignorance. One.
All young men don’t get to become old men that’s for sure.
ur comment shocked me. cuz well this is the internet. for that, THANK YOU.
Much love & respect to the pioneers of the game. You can’t hate on the architects an then claim you love love rap/hiphop. H-law
The ageism in hip hop is a joke. It’s time we as fans grew up.
Thank you & great respect to wordz of wisdom. HipHop=1st inform the disenfranchised to empower their dreams n goals in unity/ 2nd teach their souls of the wisdom & honor to be embraced within our multiracial brothers n sisters/3rd be smart & project more positivity in the entertainment content of our music to raise the bar in yes fuckin health benefits in artists contracts, include more community projects with real impactful goals whether music, law education damn anything involving the kids. Cause right now a lot is gettin confused with how us adults abuse drugs, lie to each other, all for money limited power n fake respect. things with no proper longevity in our cultural survival. True Sustainability cause this life shorter than we expect. Some of these older trap rappers need to grow up n write real lyrics shit is not dat hard brothers n sistaz playin themselves showin more ass than brains in all walks of entertainment. fuckin wake up give the kids proper inspiration.
The problem is that youngsters 15 – 25 determine what gets played in the clubs and it’s club music that hip hop really caters too.Unless your looking for Artist with more in depth lyrics you might want to check out Boosie Badazz “Black Heaven” Kendrick Lamar & J. Cole and The Lox
only young thug, that ass hole thinks old Gees shouldnt rap,, am New school but I still fuck with your shit and PE and wish you can do more anytime.