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Afrika Bambaataa<\/a>, the hip-hop pioneer with a checkered past of sexual abuse allegations, has died at the age of 68.<\/p>\n The visionary rapper, DJ and producer (real name Lance Taylor) died on Thursday (April 9) in Pennsylvania, according to TMZ<\/em>. Bambaataa\u2019s lawyer confirmed to the Associated Press<\/em><\/a> that his cause of death was prostate cancer.<\/p>\n \u201cToday, we acknowledge the transition of a foundational architect of Hip Hop culture, Afrika Bambaataa,\u201d Kurtis Blow<\/a> said in a statement as executive director of the Hip Hop Alliance. \u201c[He] helped shape the early identity of Hip Hop as a global movement rooted in peace, unity, love, and having fun.<\/p>\n \u201cHis vision transformed the Bronx into the birthplace of a culture that now reaches every corner of the world \u2026 At the same time, we recognize that his legacy is complex and has been the subject of serious conversations within our community.\u201d<\/p>\n Born in the South Bronx, New York, Afrika Bambaataa rose to prominence as a member of the Black Spades street gang before establishing himself as a popular local DJ. In the 1970s, Bambaataa launched the art collective the Universal Zulu Nation, helping to define the four elements of hip-hop culture: DJing, graffiti, breakdancing and MCing.<\/p>\n As a recording artist, he is best known for the 1982 hit \u201cPlanet Rock\u201d with the Soulsonic Force, which cracked the top 50 of the Billboard Hot 100 and inspired a wave of electro-rap and dance-pop records, owing to its futuristic, Kraftwerk-sampling sound.<\/p>\n Alongside DJ Kool Herc<\/a> and Grandmaster Flash<\/a>, Afrika Bambaataa is widely considered a founding father of hip-hop, helping to lay the foundation for the genre to grow into arguably the most culturally influential movement of the last 50 years.<\/p>\n