Tags: (SIS)tem, Classick!, Culture, D.J. Lord Ron, Exclusive, Hip Hop, JiJi Sweet, Mix, Mixtape, music, New Ish, Westside, Zulu Nation 0 Back at’cha with a new mix and this time I brought the dope DJ JiJi Sweet of the Sis-tem Crew along to rock & we both decided on some home cookin’ of a West Coast Cali recipe with the past & present music.
Current Zulu Nation logo.
Former Zulu Nation logo
Afrika Bambaataa (left) with DJ Yutaka of Zulu Nation Japan, 2004.
The Universal Zulu Nation is an international hip hop awareness group formed by and formerly led by hip hop artist Afrika Bambaataa.[1]:101
They strongly promote that Hip-Hop was created to provide 'peace, love, unity and having fun' for those in the ghetto, and eventually onward to all those supportive of the culture.
History[edit]
Originally known simply as the Organization, it arose in the 1970s as the reformed New York Citygang the Black Spades, a street gang from South Bronx. While the Black Spades were the base of the organization, other reformed gangs contributed additional members, notably the Savage Nomads, Seven Immortals, and Savage Skulls, among others.[2] Members began to organize cultural events for youths, combining local dance and music movements into what would become known as the various elements of hip hop culture. Elements of the culture include Emceeing (MCing), Deejaying (DJing), breaking, and writing.
In many interviews, Afrika Bambaataa has spoken of the name 'Zulu' as being inspired by the 1964 film of the same name.[citation needed]
The imagery of the Zulu Nation has varied at times as well. During the 1970s, and 1980s, Afrika Bambaataa and the Zulu Nation members would often clothe themselves in costumes representing different cultures of the world and different factions of the Nation throughout the world may utilize different cultural symbols and themes to express basic Zulu philosophy.[citation needed]
Since the early 1980s, the Zulu Nation has since established (autonomous) branches in Japan, France, the UK, Australia, Canada, South Korea and the Cape Flats in Cape Town South Africa.[citation needed]
From the late 1980s, at the height of the Afrocentric movement in hip-hop (when artists such as KRS-One, Public Enemy, A Tribe Called Quest, Native Tongues, and Rakim hit success), the movement seemed to be incorporating many doctrines from the Nation of Islam, the Nation of Gods and Earths, and the Nuwaubians. In the mid 1990s some members began to break off starting their own projects or organizations such as Ill Crew Universal.[3]
Afrika Bambaataa stood down as head of the Zulu Nation in May 2016 after allegations of sexually abusing several young men and children in the organization. Ronald Savage was the first of several men to speak up about Bambaataa's alleged sexual abuse publicly.[4]
Zulu Nation in France[edit]
The Zulu movement was introduced to France in the early 1980s by Afrika Bambaataa. The Zulu Nation was centred in suburban Paris since most African immigrants lived beyond the city limits. Since 1987, the Zulu Nation's ties to the French hip hop community have waned. Since Afrika Bambaataa's tour of France in 2008 and a Zulu Nation reunion in Paris, new movements of the Universal Zulu Nation have emerged in different cities in France.[5] According to Veronique Henelon, 'French rap specifically has been a multi-dimensional expression of ties with Africa.'[6] The first hip-hop television show reportedly appeared in France. It was called 'H.I.P. H.O.P.' and was aired by the TF1 channel.
Notable members and affiliates[edit]
Popular culture[edit]
In 2004, the thirteenth episode of the second season of The Chappelle Show had the comedian Dave Chappelle do a sketch on an African-American George W. Bush, called Black Bush, where the character said that his coalition of the willing included Afrika Bambataa and the Zulu Nation.[7]
The Universal Zulu Nation is featured at length in the 2016 Netflix series The Get Down. In the series, Afrika Bambaataa is played by Nigerian-American actor Okieriete Onaodowan.
References[edit]
^Chang, Jeff (2005). Can't Stop, Won't Stop: A History of the Hip-Hop Generation. New York: St. Martin's Press. ISBN0-312-30143-X.
^About from ZuluNation.com, retrieved 28 September 2015
^Prevos, A.J.M., 'Post-colonial Popular Music in France: Rap Music and Hip-Hop Culture in the 1980s and 1990s.' In Global Noise: Rap and Hip-Hop Outside the USA. Tony Mitchell ed., pp. 29–56. Middletown: Wesleyan University Press, 2001.
^Henelon, V. 'Africa on Their Mind: Rap, Blackness, and Citizenship in France.' In The Vinyl Ain't Final: Hip-Hop and the Globalisation of Black Popular Culture. Dipannita Basu and Sidney J. Lemelle, eds., pp. 151–66. London; Ann Arbor, MI: Pluto Press, 2006
^Jonathan Gray et al, Satire TV: Politics and Comedy in the Post-network Era (New York: NYU Press, 2009), 243.
External links[edit]
'Zulu Nation: From Gang To Glory', by Davey D
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Universal_Zulu_Nation&oldid=945201470'
Savage in 2007
Born
1965 (age 54–55)[1]
Nationality
American
Other names
Bee-Stinger
Occupation
Website
RonaldSavage.com
Ronald Savage (born 1965)[1] is an American entrepreneur, hip hop artist, author, and activist. He was known as the 'crate boy' for Jazzy Jay, who was the DJ for Afrika Bambaataa. He later publicly reported in 2016 that Bambaataa sexually molested him.
Hon. Ronald Savage at a Press Release
Early life[edit]
Growing up in the Castle Hill Houses in The Bronx, Savage was diagnosed with Tourette syndrome as well as epilepsy. He became a member of the Universal Zulu Nation at the age of 14. Savage used to spend time with D.J Jazzy Jay while he recorded records in the early 1980s.[2] Savage states, 'The best time I had in hip hop, when I was a kid was being paid after the parties, we were being paid (by Bambaataa) in White Castles Hamburgers'.[3]
Music career[edit]
Savage got his start in the music industry in 1986 when Jazzy Jay built his recording studio in the Bronx on Blondell Ave.[4] He paid his dues by running errands for Jazzy.[4][5] In 1986, Jazzy Jay teamed up with Rocky Bucano to start Strong City Records. Soon, Jazzy moved the label to Allerton Ave in the Bronx, where Savage convinced the DJ's to play records of Strong City artists on rap radio and in rap clubs. soon after in 1988 Strong City Records[6] was acquired by MCA Records to become Strong City / MCA / Uni Records. There, Savage worked on Strong City Record acts such as Busy Bee Starski, Def Duo, Ultimate Force, Ice Cream Tee, Nu Sounds, BZ2 M.C.'s, and other groups like Brand Nubian, Showbiz & A.G, Fat Joe, which all worked out of Jazzy Jay Studios.
Dj Lord Ron Zulu Nation Youtube
A few years later, he left Strong City Records and began working for Dick Scott Entertainment the management company for the New Kids on The Block, Marky Mark, Boys to Men. At Dick Scott Entertainment, Savage worked as an artist liaison for the rap group Snap!,[2] whose single 'I Got The Power' went #1 on the weekly charts in Spain, UK, Netherlands, Switzerland, as well as the Eurochart Hot 100. In 1990 the song hit #2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.[7] Savage also handled for Dick Scott Entertainment other groups as Doug E Fresh, Ikey Cee, and Show Biz & A.G.[2] In 1990 while working with the rap pop group SNAP Ronald 'Bee-Stinger' Savage carved the term Six elements of the Hip Hop Movement. The Six Elements Of The Hip Hop Movement are: Consciousness Awareness, Civil Rights Awareness, Activism Awareness, Justice, Political Awareness, Community Awareness.[8][9][10][11][12][13]While working as an artist liaison at Dick Scott Entertainment, he suffered a mild stroke from the constant stress at his job which ended his career in the music industry.[14] Ronald Savage states about his released single in 2018 Hip Hop Movement Anthem 'I'm not rapping on the single, this is an arrangement of classic Hip Hop beats for the clubs and DJ’s to bring fun and peace back to the forefront of Hip-Hop.'[15]
Music Release Date: September 20, 2018 (Single) - Hip Hop Movement Anthem - Ron 'Bee-Stinger' Savage[16][17]
Music Release Date: January 11, 2019 (Single) - Keep Goin - Ron 'Bee-Stinger' Savage[18]
Non-profit and political work[edit]
In 2005, Savage started a non-profit organization called United Coalition Association. Its mission is to fight juvenile delinquency and counteract negative behavior in youth. It also organizes college fairs to prepare students the entrance to college.[2]
Savage also appeared in PSAs encouraging youth to stay away from gang activity, which aired on TV stations such as MTV and VH1. In 2008, Savage was elected to the New York State Democratic Committee with the help of former NYS Assemblyman Peter M Rivera. Savage was honored by the NAACP with an award in recognition of his devotion and commitment and uplifting youth in the community. Ronald Savage is also the founder of the New York State College Fair Day. He also created a DVD called The Plan which provides information about entrance to college.[19]
Controversy[edit]
In 2011, Bronx Borough President Rubén Díaz Jr. did not reappoint Savage, then a New York State Democratic Committeeman for the 76th Assembly District, to local Community Board #9 in the Soundview area of the Bronx, due to the fact that Savage helped Charlie Ramos (a candidate for senate) in the 2011 September primary elections against Ruben Diaz Jr's father, New York state Sen. Rubén Díaz Sr.[20]
Roni Zulu Tattoo
In 2016, Savage reported that Afrika Bambaataamolested him at the age of 15 in 1980.[21] Former Hot 97 host Troi Torain aka STAR of the Star & Buc Wild Show in New York City broke the story on the Shot 97 internet radio show. On April 9, the exclusive story appeared in the New York Daily News.[1] The Universal Zulu Nation apologized to Savage, after three more men came forth with accounts of being abused by Bambaataa after the story was published. Savage has also fought to help change the statute of limitations laws in New York State against child molesters.[22][23]
Savage was featured on the 2016 single 'Don't Close Your Eyes' produced by Jonathan Hay, where he spoke over Bambaataa's song 'Planet Rock' which was replayed in the track. Savage speaks out about child molestation and issues a very bold challenge to the President of the United States, stating, “Children are being molested every day. I was molested by a world Hip-Hop icon,” states Savage. “My question is to the President of the United States of America: what are you going to do about the child molestation crisis of America?”.[24] Savage also stated in an interview in London, 'I don’t recognize the term hip hop Culture because that is a term Bambaataa coined and I don’t know what his intention was when he coined the term, but what I do recognize is hip hop and I salute the rebirth of the hip hop movement'.[25]
References[edit]
^ abc'EXCLUSIVE: Afrika Bambaataa sex abuse accuser Ronald Savage details years of torment following hip-hop icon's molestation'. New York Daily News. April 9, 2016. Savage, 50
^ abcdGoodstein, Steven. 'Former committeeman, hip hop liaison has overcome many life obstacles • Bronx Times'. Bxtimes.com. Retrieved October 9, 2016.
^Angel (November 2, 2016). 'An Un-Zulu Nation'.
^ ab'Lord Jamar: Rumors Afrika Bambaataa Gay for 20 Years, Lying About Victim'. YouTube. July 15, 2016. Retrieved October 9, 2016.
^'Home'. Ronaldsavage.com. Retrieved October 9, 2016.
^'Strong City Records'.
^'Afrika Bambaataa sex abuse accuser Ronald Savage speaks out'. NY Daily News. Retrieved October 11, 2016.
^'Encore -- The plan. vol. 2 [videorecording] : educational tool for preparing to look for college / writer, Ronald Savage, Charlie Watt'. browse.nypl.org. Retrieved October 11, 2016.
^Kappstatter, Bob. 'A farewell to Elaine's, that Bronx gal's famed saloon - NY Daily News'.
^Wedge, Dave (October 10, 2016). 'Afrika Bambaataa Allegedly Molested Young Men For Decades. Why Are the Accusations Only Coming out Now?'. Thump. Retrieved October 15, 2016.
^'EXCLUSIVE: Daily News inspires Queens mom to fight for justice'. NY Daily News. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
^'Afrika Bambaataa Accuser Ron Savage's Vocals Added to Powerful Remix – DJBooth Article'. DJBooth.net. Retrieved October 15, 2016.
^'allhiphop.com - Child Molestation Victim Ronald Savage Drops Track Dissing Afrika Bambaattaa'.