(FILES) Hip hop pioneer Afrika Bambaataa speaks during a press conference to announce the launch of The Smithsonian`s "Hip-Hop Won`t Stop: The Beat, The Rhymes, The Life" at the Hilton Hotel February 28, 2006 in New York City. Groundbreaking US hip-hop artist and DJ Afrika Bambaataa, known for his 1982 hit "Planet Rock," has died at age 68, his former record label said on April 9, 2026. "With his passing, we reflect on his contributions to the genre and broader culture, which continue to this day," Tommy Boy Records said in an Instagram post alongside a picture of Bambaataa. (Photo by Scott Gries / Getty Images North America / AFP)