The legendary DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist are touring the US in a special tribute to godfather of hip hop Afrika Bambaataa. The historic Renegades of Rhythm tour will pull from Bambaataa’s personal collection of over 40,000 vinyl records.
Back in the late 70’s, Bambaataa was a well-known block party organizer and DJ/producer in New York City. He went on to make futuristic techno pop-hip hop inspired by Kraftwerk and in 1982 laid down the seminal hip hop classic album, Planet Rock.
While “Planet Rock” and its follow up, “Looking For The Perfect Beat” were hugely influential to hip hop, Bambaataa turned his focus throughout the 80s from electro-oriented rap to fusion, making tracks with Sex Pistol’s John Lydell (yes, Johnny Rotten), James Brown, George Clinton, UB40, and even Boy George. In that time Afrika Bambaataa also founded the Zulu Nation collective, which included such artists as De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, Queen Latifah, and the Jungle Brothers, and inspired dance styles popular throughout the 80s and 90s such as Detroit techno, Miami bass, and even Chicago house.
Throughout the Renegades of Rhythm tour, DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist will be spinning solely from records from Afrika Bambaataa’s personal collection of over 40,000 vinyl.
They’re HIS records, with his blessings. This isn’t just ANY copy of ‘X’ breakbeat, it’s THE copy, THE copy that started everything. Not just any records, the MASTER OF RECORDS’ records. – DJ Shadow.
Renegades of Rhythm comes through California at the following locations next week:
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