Afrika Bambaataa

Known for

Acting

Born

April 17, 1957

Birthplace

The Bronx, New York City, New York, USA

Died

April 9, 2026 (aged 68)

Biography

Afrika Bambaataa, born Lance Taylor, was an American disc jockey, rapper, songwriter and producer. He is notable for releasing a series of genre-defining electro tracks in the 1980s that influenced the development of hip hop culture.

Best known work

Beastie Boys Story

2020

Beat Street

1984

Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown

2013

Hip Hop Evolution

2016

Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap

2012

Scratch

2001

808

2015

The Work of Director Chris Cunningham

2003

Sample This

2013

Modulations

1998

Filmography

2020
Beastie Boys Story
as Self (archive footage)
2016
SoundbreakingTV
as Self (2 episodes)
2016
Hip Hop EvolutionTV
as Self (16 episodes)
2015
808
as Self
2013
Sample This
as Self
2013
The Bass That Ate Miami: The Foundation
as Self
2013
Anthony Bourdain: Parts UnknownTV
2012
Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap
as Self
2008
Hip Hop Story from Croatia
as Himself
2007
NY77: The Coolest Year in Hell
as Self
2005
Leftfield: A Final Hit
2004
5 Sides of a Coin
as Himself
2004
And You Don't Stop: 30 Years of Hip-HopTV
as Self (5 episodes)
2003
James Brown: Soul Survivor
2003
The Work of Director Chris Cunningham
as Car Park Attendant
2002
The Freshest Kids
2002
The Making and Meaning of 'We Are Family'
as Self
2001
Scratch
1999
The Hip Hop YearsTV
as Self (1 episode)
1998
Modulations
as Self
1998
Falco - Hoch wie nie
as Self (archive footage)
1995
Rap: Looking for the Perfect Beat
1995
The Show
as Self
1990
One World, One Voice
as Self
1990
Red Hot + Blue: A Tribute to Cole Porter
as Self