- Pioneering hip-hop artist and DJ Afrika Bambaataa, whose legal name was Lance Taylor, died Thursday at age 68 in a Pennsylvania hospital from complications due to cancer.
- Bambaataa was a foundational figure in early hip-hop, known for his influence on the electro genre and co-founding the Universal Zulu Nation, releasing hits like "Planet Rock."
- His legacy is complicated by multiple allegations of child sexual abuse and trafficking that emerged starting in 2016, which he denied.
- Despite denying the claims, Bambaataa stepped down as head of the Universal Zulu Nation in 2016 following the allegations.
- He lost a civil lawsuit in 2021 after failing to appear in court, leading to a settlement payout for sexual abuse and trafficking allegations, though no criminal charges were ever filed.
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