Afrika Bambaataa (or as I like to refer to him "The Celestial One") is a man of many names and honors, having pioneered the break-beat generation of hip-hop and laid foundation to virtually everything that's come thereafter. A recent interview with VLAD TV found the living legend breaking down the many names he's taken on over his 40-some year career, charting the stages he and the culture have gone through hand-in-hand as one of its greatest redeemers and most devoted student-turned-teacher. Though criminally brief, the chat finds Bam waxing nostalgic on some crucial and often contested points in hip-hop history, delving into his transition from Hip-Hop Godfather to universal soldier of hip-hop culture, echoing the intergalactic sentiments he bestowed upon us back when I had the supreme honor of interviewing him last year. He also provided us with a blueprint as to how white kids first began to embrace the culture in the early '80s, as both hip-hop and punk shared the common goal of empowering voices silenced by mainstream shouts. It's another endlessly insightful sit-down with a gawd and can be enjoyed in its entirety below. Stay tunes for all things Bambaataa as he continues to change games here on Earth and beyond.
