Band of the Day (11.06.09): AFRIKA BAMBAATAA

Who?

One of the early pioneers of hip-hop, Afrika Bambaataa has been plugging away since 1980, and hasn't slowed down since. Using the aid of rap crews the Jazzy 5 and Soulsonic Force, Bambaataa created some of the first jaw-dropping beats and samples in the genre's long, storied history.

And I Care Because?

- He helped invent modern dance music. Making excellent use of Kraftwerk's "Trans-Europe Express," Bambaataa spawned a new strain of frenzied electronica when he made "Planet Rock," his most famous single.

- The sampler gets sampled. Bambaata's music has the odd distinction of being sampled by other artists, despite the fact that he sampled the music of others. His classic "Jazzy Sensation" eventually went on to be sampled in the Beastie Boys hit "Hey Ladies," though "Jazzy" itself sampled an old Gwen McCrae song.

- You need to know your roots. Rappers like Common pay homage to Bambaataa for a reason, and it's because he made truly great, innovative hip-hop. While plenty of the old-school classics have worn with age, Bambaataa's music still sounds fresh because of his willingness to push things to the next level.

Stream Looking for the Perfect Beat below, buy his albums, and check him out at MySpace.