Afrika Bambaataa on the Early Foundation of Hip Hop Culture

VladTV · May 12, 2026 · 59m

In this classic 2015 VladTV interview, Afrika Bambaataa — widely recognized as one of the founding pioneers of hip-hop — breaks down the origins of the culture, its global evolution, and where he believes it’s headed next . Bambaataa reflects on the early days of hip-hop in the Bronx, explaining how he and Kool Herc helped shape the movement through DJing, parties, and community influence. He discusses how the term “hip-hop” came about, crediting early figures like Keith Cowboy and Lovebug Starski, before the Universal Zulu Nation helped formalize it as a global cultural movement. The…