Soulsonic Force (also referred to as Afrika Bambaataa & Soulsonic Force) is an American electro-funk and hip hop ensemble led by
Afrika Bambaataa
Lance Taylor (born on April 17, 1957), also known as Afrika Bambaataa (), is an American DJ, rapper, and producer from the South Bronx, New York. He is notable for releasing a series of genre-defining electro tracks in the 1980s that influenc ...
who helped establish hip-hop in the early 1980s with songs such as "
Planet Rock." They were also influential in the birth of the electro movement in America and helped pave the way for modern dance music styles such as
as well as the entire
Miami bass
Miami bass (booty music or booty bass) is a subgenre of hip hop music that became popular in the 1980s and 1990s. The use of drums from the Roland TR-808, sustained kick drum, heavy bass, raised dance tempos, and frequently sexually explicit l ...
scene.
History
In 1982, Soulsonic Force and Afrika Bambaataa released a single "Planet Rock." The song borrowed musical motifs from German electro-pop, British rock and African-American disco rap. All the different elements and musical styles were blended together; and in doing so, offered hip hop as a new vision for global harmony. The song became an immediate hit and stormed the music charts worldwide.
[Chang, Jeff. “It’s a Hip-hop World.” Foreign Policy 163, Nov/Dec 2007, 58-65.]
Their other well-known songs include "
Looking for the Perfect Beat
"Looking for the Perfect Beat" is a song by Afrika Bambaataa & the Soulsonic Force. The song was produced by Arthur Baker and John Robie and was the follow-up track for the group following " Planet Rock". The track took much longer to develop ...
" and "
Renegades of Funk
"Renegades of Funk" is a song written by Afrika Bambaataa, Arthur Baker, John Miller & John Robie and recorded by Afrika Bambaataa & Soulsonic Force. Released in 1983 as a single on the Tommy Boy label, it was also included on the 1986 album '' ...
" (which is one of the earliest political-conscious rap songs, alongside
Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five
Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five were an American hip hop group formed in the South Bronx of New York City in 1978. The group's members were Grandmaster Flash, Melle Mel, Kidd Creole (not to be confused with Kid Creole), Keef Cowboy, S ...
's "
The Message").
Soulsonic Force features on the title track of the
Freestylers' debut album, ''
We Rock Hard
''We Rock Hard'' is the first album by the English electronic group Freestylers and their most commercially successful release to date. AllMusic describes the album as a run through of the band members' back catalogue, but it still showcases t ...
''.
Lineup
*
Afrika Bambaataa
Lance Taylor (born on April 17, 1957), also known as Afrika Bambaataa (), is an American DJ, rapper, and producer from the South Bronx, New York. He is notable for releasing a series of genre-defining electro tracks in the 1980s that influenc ...
* Mr. Biggs (real name: Ellis Williams)
* Pow Wow (real name: Robert Darrell Allen)
* The G.L.O.B.E (real name: John Miller)
*
DJ Jazzy Jay
John Bayas (born November 18, 1961), also known as The Original Jazzy Jay or DJ Jazzy Jay, is an American hip hop DJ and producer.
Background
Jazzy Jay was born into a Gullah family in coastal South Carolina. He moved with his family to New Y ...
(real name: John Byas)
Discography
Albums
* ''
Planet Rock: The Album'' (1986)
* "
Planet Rock" (Swordfish Mix) on the ''
Swordfish
Swordfish (''Xiphias gladius''), also known as broadbills in some countries, are large, highly migratory predatory fish characterized by a long, flat, pointed bill. They are a popular sport fish of the billfish category, though elusive. Swordfis ...
'' soundtrack (see
Swordfish
Swordfish (''Xiphias gladius''), also known as broadbills in some countries, are large, highly migratory predatory fish characterized by a long, flat, pointed bill. They are a popular sport fish of the billfish category, though elusive. Swordfis ...
).
Singles
References
External links
*
American hip hop groups
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