As Afrika Bambaataa celebrates his 58th birthday today (Sunday, April 17) the hip-hop legend has been accused once again of sexual molestation, this time by three more men.
Last Sunday, the New York Daily News ran an exclusive interview with 50-year-old Ronald Savage, a former music executive and author, who alleged when he was 15, the “Planet Rock” DJ fondled him, and also forced him to perform oral sex on an older member of the Zulu Nation. Since then, others have come forward to substantiate Savage’s claim.
“He is a pervert,” Hassan Campbell said to The News. “He likes little boys.”
Campbell, now 39, recalled how he came in contact with the beloved Bronx DJ, and said when he was younger, Bambaataa was more than a popular guy in the neighborhood, he was also a father figure. Campbell said the Zulu Nation founder gave him money when he needed, and provided a place for him to stay when he had issues at home. However, Campbell claims Bambaataa’s house was where he abused him numerous times when he was 12 and 13 years old.
“He had the most fun house in the world,” Campbell said. “There were celebrities there, musicians, neighborhood heroes. It was the best place to be – and the worst place to be.”
Another accuser, Troy, also came forward to level sexual abuse allegations against Bambaataa. Both Troy and Campbell said showed them pornographic images and videos and then performed oral sex on them.
“He showed me a book with a picture of a penis and said, ‘You don’t have to be gay for me to suck your d—,” Troy said.
A 51 year old man who wanted to remain anonymous, has also come forward to accuse Bambaataa. Campbell said after the abuse, he stayed in contact with Bambaataa who sent him books and put money in his commissary account when he was incarcerated for three years on an assault charge. Campbell, who admittedly says Bambaataa was a huge part of his life, posted an angry video accusing him of sexual abuse several months ago. He took the video down after several Zulu Nation officials agreed to meet with him.
Campbell said Bambaataa acknowledged the abuse and promised to get counseling. He said he would open up a center for troubled youth and step down from the Zulu Nation, but failed to act.
“He never did any of those things,” Campbell said. “He’s a manipulator and a liar. He’s just waiting for this chaos to blow over so he can go back to his dark, dingy hole and go back to his old ways. He needs to put down the candy and let the little boys go.”
