Afrika Bambaataa, the legendary DJ, producer, and widely recognized "Godfather" of hip-hop culture, passed away on April 9, 2026, at the age of 68.

Born Lance Taylor in the South Bronx in 1957, Bambaataa was a visionary who helped transform NYC gang culture into a global movement of "peace, love, unity, and having fun" in the 1970s and 80s. He was a co-founder of the Universal Zulu Nation and pioneered early hip-hop by blending innovative mixing techniques with funk and electronic music. His 1982 masterpiece "Planet Rock" was a landmark recording that heavily influenced electro-funk and hip-hop globally.

As important as he was to music, his legacy is muddled with multiple sexual assault allegations that emerged in 2016.

We here at Notinhalloffame would like to extend our condolences to the family and friends of Afrika Bambaataa.

There has been a lot of debate as to whether Hip Hop belongs in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. To us at NIHOF, we believe it does belong and with the past inductions of Grandmaster Flash and Run D.M.C., it is clear that the Rap question has been answered. Had we launched this site two years ago, Run D.M.C. would have made our top ten, but with that being said, the man who predates Run D.M.C. and The Beastie Boys (a top ten selection) will likely have a secure spot in our top twenty until his induction.