Afrika Bambaataa To Receive Lifetime Achievement Award For Helping To Create Hip-Hop

On November 17, 2016 the Global Spin Awards will be celebrating their fourth annual ceremony to award and honor the world’s most influential DJs for their contribution to the culture of music and entertainment. The event’s organizer, Shawn Prez, revealed that Afrika Bambaataa, recognized in the industry as THE Godfather of Hip-Hop and founding father of Universal Zulu Nation, will be receiving a “Lifetime Achievement Award”. 

According to Prez, “You could consider Bambaataa somewhat of the Elvis Presley or Little Richard – one of those people who helped bring the culture into the mainstream,” in a recent interview with The Guardian. 58 year old Bambaataa laughs, and responds, “I wouldn’t say I was the Elvis Presley…But I can tell you I was the Sly Stone or the George Clinton.”

Nominees for 2015 also include DJ Khaled, Skrillex, Diplo, Afrojack, Steve Aoki, DJ Snake, and Calvin Harris. See the full list here.

Check out this video of Afrika Bambaataa’s 1982 hit song “Planet Rock,” which fused Electronica and Funk before “Electro-Funk” was even a thing.