It would be no great exaggeration to say that Bambaataa is one of those
who did everything for hip-hop: he invented it. The record "Planet Rock",
released in 1982, is still considered a classic of hip-hop music. The godfather of hip-hop and break-beat DJing, the "loving chief" of the "Zulu Nation" clan (that is exactly how his warrior name translates from the language of the Zulu people) — the veteran's titles and awards could be listed endlessly.
The 47-year-old New York guru is in excellent shape — he still DJs, produces and travels the world. On May 12 he opened a new series of Thursday parties at the club Fabrique.
A native of the Bronx, Afrika Bambaataa (real name Kevin Donovan) accomplished a great Deed, joining two utterly opposite things — black funk and the fantasies of the first "white electronic musicians". There is no telling how either would have developed had it not been for the electro-funk invented by Afrika, to which the 1990s owe all their trip-hops and drum'n'basses combined. Afrika's second great deed was that it was he who delayed the arrival of gangsta rap by a full 10 years, having persuaded the population of the Bronx to settle their scores not in large-scale shootouts but by pulling off acrobatic stunts on the streets of their home neighbourhoods. Bambaataa spent the nineties in the shadow of the gangsta and trip-hop he had initiated but which were absolutely opposite to him in spirit. Having waited out the demise of both, Bambaataa returned to the stage once again with his positive funk vibrations. These days he is recording a fine album, "Dark Matter Moving At The Speed Of Light", and once again announcing recruitment into the ranks of his organization Zulu Nation. Afrika still needs black Americans concerned with reforming contemporary music.
The buzz around the veteran's visit was, it must be said, considerable. Outside the entrance to the VIP area of the club Fabrique, where before his set the guru "deigned to dine", a queue of journalists formed, all wishing to touch a "walking history of music". Comrade Bambaataa chatted with the journalistic crowd without tearing himself away from his food; everyone smiled knowingly — well, a big man like that (in every sense) needs to eat properly too))). All the more so since it looked not at all offensive but rather quite endearing — homely, down to earth.
Among the press room's "attractions", besides the lavishly laid table, there was a huge screen broadcasting videos of fashionable R and B stars, smouldering sandalwood incense sticks, and an almost complete absence of lighting. Very young loyal subjects darted about the chief, while the "great father" presided at the head of the table and graciously and wisely answered the questions of the uninitiated.
Well, hello! How was the flight?
Hello there, hello — Afrika Bambaataa greets you. Peace to you all! And more energy. That's exactly what we need most in order to get the party going right. And the flight — yeah, it was fine. I've flown longer distances before.
As far as we know, this is your first visit to Moscow?
To Moscow, yes, but I've already been to Russia. Well, to that — what's it called — Slovenia. Back then it was still part of the Soviet Union.
Slovenia is probably great, but it was never part of the Soviet Union.
Wasn't it? Strange, I always thought Slovenia was the former Soviet Union, or the Russian Union, or whatever it was you all called it? Oh well, so I'm in Russia and in Moscow for the first time then!
So how's Moscow? Have you managed to see anything yet?
Oh, Moscow... I liked it! Very impressive! Moscow is this collision of different cultures and that's great. Kind of like New York. Only Moscow is a bit bigger. Anyway, I've been here two days already and have managed to see a few things, met a whole bunch of people. They all ran around me, drove me to different places. In short, it's cool here in your country, not bad at all.
Not like in Slovenia?
(Laughs) Slovenia was very nice too!
So how did yesterday's concert at the club "Tochka" go? Did you like the atmosphere, the crowd?
It's hard to call it a concert — it was a small DJ party. But it was really fun. I very much hope that soon I'll really come to Russia with a proper concert, not with little DJ sets, and throw a real bash. But yesterday at Tochka was quite decent too. I hope it'll be no worse here at Fabrique. We've prepared a couple of surprises for you (the surprises turned out to be a real battle between our own and foreign b-boys, as well as the unexpected mid-set appearance of the well-known electronic violinist Felix Lahuti — author's note.)
And how would you characterize your own music? What genre is it, does it have a name?
Well, it's a mix of everything you could call funky. It's hip-hop, funk, reggae, techno, house, electro-funk. It's a really thermonuclear mix, very fun. In short — funky!
And what do you think about the dominance of trance in contemporary electronic music?
Trance can be fun sometimes too, but I don't play trance. Honestly, it doesn't really do it for me. Well, I could play something trancey if I threw some soul or a funky theme into it.
How and when did the "Zulu Nation" come about?
The Zulu Nation was founded in 1973. This whole thing started as a small black community, but then it grew into an international one. We began with hip-hop — the first releases came out in 1974. We all gathered together with like-minded people; it was that first family, the first clan of hip-hoppers, and we started travelling the world to bring this culture to everyone. And it continues to this day — today we're here to show you real hip-hop!
And Bambaataa — when was Bambaataa born?
Bambaataa is the name of an African chief of the Zulu people. He was born in 1865 and died in 1906 (though I actually meant something a little different when I asked about Bambaataa's birth, but never mind, this is like a little historical footnote). And it translates as loving chief — or, to be more precise, a chief who loves his people.
So what is the Zulu Nation? A creative crew, a way of life, a musical genre? Or maybe a mafia outfit?)))
If you're expecting some loud slogans from me like, "life means nothing, only chicks, guns and money exist" — I'll say nothing of the sort. Zulu really is a way of life and of music, it's a brotherhood. Only our values are a bit different from those usually attributed to hip-hop culture.
Which ones, if it's not a secret?
Our nation rests on 5 pillars — knowledge, experience, mutual support, culture and development. We're constantly on the move.
And will you say anything about "white rap and hip-hop"? Does such a thing even exist?
Again, I'll say nothing bad. Hip-hop is hip-hop, and it doesn't matter what colour it is — white, black, yellow or any other. Hip-hop is an international thing, and it's a very good thing that it unites different nationalities and races. Music should unite people, not divide them!
And here's about women in this value system. What should a woman be like for a hip-hopper?
A woman should be a woman. It all depends on how she carries herself and what impression she makes. If she's going to flaunt all her assets and shake her flesh around — which some "trendy comrades" consider mandatory to show in their videos — then she'll be treated accordingly. If she herself wants to be seen as a "cock-sucking hole". But if she can make people respect her, then when they meet her they'll say not "Hey, hi, bitch" but "Hello, queen!".
Presumably she has to be smart in order to earn respect?
Smart and beautiful, either way.
And which other musicians can you pay deep respect to these days? Who's the best in your view?
Hard to say. I like all sorts of music and I respect a great many musicians. I like the Chemical Brothers, the Prodigy, and Kraftwerk — no question about them; I like Westbam. So many people make good music, there are so many styles. It's hard to say who's the best, everyone's good in their own way. I bow before Missy Elliott, she's really cool!
And what are you listening to now — what were you listening to on the plane?
I have a few favourite tracks by James Brown; Missy Elliott really lifts my mood right now... Busta Rhymes. (Just at that moment, on the huge screen, Kelis was silently belting out something, while one of the b-boys accompanying Afrika was busily giving her bunny ears in the projector's light)
And do you like to dance? And how do you dance?
I love to dance, love to cut loose. Though lately it's getting a bit hard (well yes, the break veteran weighs some 120 kilos))). In any case, it has to be something upbeat. I can dance to R and B, to hip-hop, house, soul, even to heavy metal — the main thing is that the mood is right))))
And what's your relationship with fashion? Is it important to you? Like, being fashionable, keeping up with the trends?
No, not really. My relationship with fashion is rather strained. I wear the clothes I like and that's it. They have to be comfortable and loose. The one thing I love is all sorts of African trappings — amulets, hooded robes. Something unusual like that (it has to be said that the chief was dressed in exactly that way — a loose black hooded robe, shapeless trousers, Caterpillar boots and an insane amount of those very same colourful baubles.)
Can you recall your last purchase? What clothes did you buy?
My last purchase. Oh, I might not remember... Ah, well, I bought myself a whole bunch of different boots made in different countries. I like that slightly rough style. Generally I go around in the same things I come out on stage in.
So what about plans, albums?
Right now I'm recording a fine album, "Dark Matter Moving At The Speed Of Light", and once again announcing recruitment into the ranks of my organization Zulu Nation — Afrika still needs black Americans concerned with reforming contemporary music.
What is the "loving chief" dreaming of at this moment?
(At this question the chief noticeably livened up) I dream that the ruin and disasters on this earth would come to an end. That all the people who have no roof over their heads would finally find one, that no one would go hungry, that everyone would get what they need. I dream that no one would have to pay for anything and that everyone would help one another. I want humanity to become free!
