Kevin Donovan (born April 17, 1957), better known by the stage name
Afrika Bambaataa, is an
American DJ from the
South Bronx,
New York. He is notable for releasing a series of genre-defining
electro tracks in the 1980s that influenced the development of
hip hop culture. Afrika Bambaataa is one of the originators of
breakbeat DJing and is respectfully known as "The Godfather" and "Amen Ra of Hip Hop Kulture", as well as the father of
electro funk. Through his co-opting of the street gang the
Black Spades into the music and culture-oriented
Universal Zulu Nation, he has helped spread hip hop culture throughout the world.