Scope and content
Approximately 40,000 sound recordings representing Bambaataa's music collection from the 1970s to the present. The archive also includes books, documents, and files relating to the founding and spread of the Universal Zulu Nation; and videos, papers, and clothing.
Dates
- circa 1972-2016.
Creator
- Afrika Bambaataa, 1957- (Collector, Person)
- Afrika Bambaataa, 1957- (Person)
Language of Material
In English.
Conditions Governing Access
Access to boxes 551, 552, and 553 restricted until 2040.
Conditions Governing Use
Vinyl that has been cataloged can be viewed but not played.
Conditions Governing Use
Due to the fragility and potential degradation of moving image and sound recordings, viewing and listening is limited to items that have been digitized. If an item is in another media format, you may request to have the item digitized for access. Information on ordering access copies may be found on the Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections webpage..
Conditions Governing Use
Audio visual media that has been digitized: SR-6803, SR-6889, SR-8036, SR-8807, SR-8808, SR-8810 to SR-8816, SR-8818 to SR-8825, SR-10341 to SR-10370, V-9907, V-9913, V-9970, V-10030, V-10031, V-10033, V-10038, V-10053, V-10080 to V-10083, V-10086, V-10217 to V-10220, V-10223 to V-10231, V-10234, TR-18098 to TR-18106, TR-18109 to TR-18115, TR-18117 to TR-18121.
Conditions Governing Use
Use of digitized audio visual materials is limited to on-site access only.
Biographical / Historical
Afrika Bambaataa is an American disc jockey, singer, and songwriter from the South Bronx, New York. Often called the “Godfather” of Hip Hop, Bambaataa has helped to define Hip Hop since it emerged in the South Bronx in the 1970s. One of a handful of Hip Hop's 1970s originators, Bambaataa gave Hip Hop its name, and was the first to define its core artistic elements - DJing, rapping, break dancing, and graffiti art - under one cultural umbrella. His cultural organization, the Universal Zulu Nation, has helped to spread Hip Hop culture throughout the world. His genre-defining 1982 song "Planet Rock" and subsequent electro-funk tracks have become icons of hip-hop and electronic music. In 2007 he was nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Extent
600 cubic feet. (600 cubic feet.)
Series list
Series I. Manuscripts a. School Papers and Assignments b. Africa Trip c. Soul Scrapbooks and Music Writing d. Notebooks and Miscellaneous Manuscripts e. Lyrics and Poems f. Bronx River Neighborhood Center g. Phone and Contact Lists Series II. Flyers Series III. Photographs Series IV. Personal Papers a. Personal Papers b. Press About Bambaataa c. Catalogs and Mail Series V. Universal Zulu Nation Documents a. Infinity Lessons b. Administration Series VI. Stage Costumes and Clothing Series VII. Periodicals and Publications a. Small Press Publications b. Periodicals c. Publications from 3410 De Reimer Ave. Bronx, NY d. Other Publications Series VIII. Ephemera Series IX. Moving Images and Audio Recordings Video Cassettes Unique Audio Cassettes Unique Series X. Music collection 12" Vinyl Annotated, Not Numbered Cataloged Individually A-D E-H I-L M-O P-S T-Z 2-400, Unknown, and Various Second Alpha Sequence A-Z Numbered by Bambaataa Renegades of Rhythm Tour Not Annotated A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S Afrika Bambaataa Recordings Zulu Nation Sure Shots and Labels Obscured Acetate Discs/Lacquer Discs Cassettes Commercial CDs Commercial
- African American youth -- Social life and customs.
- African American youth -- Social life and customs.
- Afrika Bambaataa, 1957-
- Bronx (New York, N.Y.) -- Social conditions -- 20th century.
- Bronx (New York, N.Y.) -- Social conditions -- 20th century.
- Disc jockeys.
- Disc jockeys.
- Electronic music.
- Electronic music.
- Funk (Music).
- Funk (Music).
- Hip-hop -- History. -- United States
- Hip-hop -- Influence.
- Hip-hop -- Influence.
- Hip-hop -- New York (State) -- New York.
- Hip-hop -- New York.
- Hip-hop -- United States -- History.
- Hip-hop.
- Hip-hop.
- Hip-hop.
- History
- Music -- Social aspects.
- Music -- Social aspects.
- New York (State) -- Bronx
- New York (State) -- New York
- Race relations.
- Race relations.
- Rap (Music)
- Rap (Music)
- Rap (Music)
- Rap (Music) -- New York (State) -- New York.
- Rap (Music) -- New York.
- Rap (Music) -- Political aspects.
- Rap (Music) -- Political aspects.
- Rap musicians.
- Rap musicians.
- Rap musicians.
- Social history.
- United States
- Universal Zulu Nation (Organization)
- Universal Zulu Nation (Organization)
- Status
- Completed
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- framed item: 1 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 93 (Mixed Materials)
- framed item: 2 (Mixed Materials)
- framed item: 3 (Mixed Materials)
- framed item: 4 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 158 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 159 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 160 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: ? (1 unprocessed box) (Mixed Materials)
- Box: ? (3 unprocessed boxes) (Mixed Materials)
- Box: ? (16 unprocessed boxes) (Mixed Materials)
- Box: ? (14 unprocessed boxes) (Mixed Materials)
- Box: ? (7 unprocessed boxes) (Mixed Materials)
- Box: ? (3 unprocessed boxes) (Mixed Materials)
- Box: ? (3 unprocessed boxes) (Mixed Materials)
- Box: ? (3 unprocessed boxes) (Mixed Materials)
- Box: ? (3 unprocessed boxes) (Mixed Materials)
- Box: ? (3 unprocessed boxes) (Mixed Materials)
- Box: ? (unprocessed) (Mixed Materials)
- Box: ? (3 unprocessed boxes) (Mixed Materials)
- Box: ? (3 unprocessed boxes) (Mixed Materials)
- Box: ? (3 unprocessed boxes) (Mixed Materials)
- Box: ? (3 unprocessed boxes) (Mixed Materials)
- Box: ? (14 unprocessed boxes) (Mixed Materials)
- Box: ? (6 unprocessed boxes) (Mixed Materials)
- Box: ? (13 unprocessed boxes) (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 551 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 552 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 553 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 554 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 556 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 557 (Mixed Materials)
- mapcase folder: 1 (Mixed Materials)
- mapcase folder: 2 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 558 (Mixed Materials)
- mapcase folder: 3 (Mixed Materials)
- mapcase folder: 4 (Mixed Materials)
- mapcase folder: 5 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 559 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 560 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 561 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 562 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 563 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 564 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 565 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 566 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 570 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 572 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 573 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 574 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 575 (Mixed Materials)
Repository Details
Part of the Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections Repository
2B Carl A. Kroch Library
Cornell University
Ithaca NY 14853
607-255-3530
607-255-9524 (Fax)
rareref@cornell.edu