292: Planet Rock is released by Afrika Bambaataa and the Soulsonic Force
The seminal 1982 release “Planet Rock” is widely regarded as one of the earliest and most important hip-hop songs. An essential building block of rap, particularly electro, its impact on dance music was equally massive – spawning techno, house and trance. Recorded by Afrika Bambaata & the Soulsonic Force, with key contributions from producer Arthur Baker, “Rock” blends synth and vocoder with breakbeats and was the first hip-hop single to use a drum machine. It planted the seeds of sampling, in addition to turntablism, with Bambaataa’s prominent mix of Kraftwerk’s “Trans-Europe Express”. Strains of “Planet Rock” run through modern hip-hop as well as the production techniques of superstar teams such as The Neptunes.
Afrika Bambaataa on AllMusic.com
Biography on Rolling Stone.com
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