EXCLUSIVE: Afrika Bambaataa Addresses Zulu Nation's Previous Statements About Kool Herc

AfRIKA BAMBAATAA: “KOOL HERC IS MY BROTHER”

(AllHipHop News) Last week the Universal Zulu Nation’s Minister of Information, Quadeer “M.C. Spice” Shakur, issued a statement to the press titled “MISREPRESENTATION OF A CULTURE BY A FOREFATHER”.

The statement addressed what Shakur said was the inaccurate depiction of the true birth date of Hip Hop culture and specifically DJ Kool Herc’s role in Hip Hop’s founding.

“Herc is our brother, but when our family strays from us, we must first forgive them for mistakes, but let them know of their wrongdoings, and of course, welcome them back with open arms,” wrote Shakur. “Kool Herc, aka Clive Campbell DID NOT BIRTH HIP-HOP CULTURE 40 YEARS AGO ON AUGUST 11, 1973… truth is, Kool Herc appears to be working with outside forces to overstep and outshine what is taking place THIS November 12th: The 40th Anniversary of the Universal Zulu Nation.”

[ALSO READ: Zulu Nation Says DJ Kool Herc Did Not Start Hip Hop And Is Misrepresenting The Culture]

Zulu Nation founder and fellow Hip Hop forefather Afrika Bambaataa says he has spoken to Kool Herc to clear up the situation.

Bambaataa also issued his own statement to AllHipHop.com about the matter.

Read Afrika Bambaataa’s full statement below.

To anybody who thought they were causing friction, it’s not happening. Kool Herc is my brother. To the Hip-Hop communities worldwide, let’s focus on the positive things concerning Hip-Hop. We still need music programs for kids in our schools, after school program incentives, morning programs for our elders, healthcare for Hip-Hoppers and communities of disconnected people worldwide. We still don’t have our Hip-Hop museum. Let’s work to stop the many injustices in our communities. And our churches, masjids and temples need to open their doors back up to the communities and stop being scared of their communities.

More of our rappers, entertainers and stars need to stand against injustice that hurts all people wherever they are on the planet. What’s more important is a Million Man/Woman March against the killings by our own in our own communities, and working to end the racist prison system designed to incarcerate Black and Latino men and women at a higher rate and for longer terms. These are the issues that must be addressed, and that are more important than worrying about causing a “beef” between my brother Kool Herc and I. And I have been calling for a Hip-Hop Union for years. Let’s do that. Remember what Zulu stands for: “Peace, Unity, Love and Havin’ Fun.”