Pioneering Hip-Hop
artist Afrika Bambaataa is preparing to release Dark Matter Moving at the
Speed of Light, in collaboration with original Tommy Boy Records founder,
Tom Silverman.
The album sticks
to Bambaataa’s long term mission of promoting peace through his work.
Silverman, who
signed Bambaataa in 1982, said that he still believes in the genre defying music
Bambaataa creates.
"His music
has helped build cross-cultural awareness and understanding by exposing different
groups of people to music they might not otherwise be exposed to," Silverman
said.
In addition to
uniting gangs in New York through the Universal Zulu Nation, Bambaataa, who
derived his name from a 19th century Zulu chief, helped establish chapters worldwide
with members of all colors and nationalities and hit big with 1982’s “Planet
Rock.”
More recently,
the Bronx bred pioneer established the Universal Federation for the Preservation
of Hip Hop Culture.
"Twenty years
later, I still believe in Bambaataa,” Silverman said. “He is more
than the spiritual heart of Hip Hop — he embraces rhythmic music and celebrates
its diversity as the core of his message. Paul Daley, Gary Numan, Sharaz, Uberzone,
Fort Knox Five, Ronald "Dukeyman" Hall, DJ Hektek, Simply Jeff, Steven
"Boogie" Brown are just some the contributors to his new album. On
this album, Afrika Bambaataa pledges allegiance to the Funk and brings back
that sound that has been missing for too long."
Emcees TC Izlam,
King Kamonzi, B-Boy Alien Ness, MC Chatterbox, Mustafa Akbar and Aghi Spirits
are all featured as well.
Dark Matter
Moving at the Speed of Light hits stores on double vinyl on September 28th,
while the CD lands in stores on October 24th.
