20th Anniversary of Afrika Bambaataa Planet Rock
May 1st, 2002 by Koldo Barroso
May 2002 marks the 20th Anniversary of the release of Afrika Bambaataa’s hip hop classic “Planet Rock”. In 1982, Afrika Bambaataa and Soul Sonic Force (Jazzy Jay, Mr. Biggs, G.L.O.B.E., Whiz Kid and Pow Wow) released the legendary single on Tommy Boy Records. Mixing funk and hip hop with Kraftwerk’s album “Trans-European Express”, it became not only a classic in hip hop, but it has also had a big influence on Chicago house and Detroit techno and it is considered as the first electro recording ever produced.
After the worldwide success of “Planet Rock” Afrika Bambaataa worked with James Brown (being the first rapper to work and sample the soul legend), Yellowman, and UB40, and in 1992 formed his own label called Planet Rock. He has also worked with Arthur Baker, Leftfield, Bill Laswell, Kosheen, Leftfield, and many others.