While the South Bronx DJ has scarcely a popular hit to his name, his fusions of hip-hop, funk and electro house made him one of the most ground-breaking DJs of the early 80s. Bambaataa (real name: Kevin Donovan) is widely as an originator of breakbeat DJing and electro-funk, and is widely referred to as the “Godfather of Hip-Hop” (not to be confused with the Doggfather – Snoop).

His classic tracks include such old-school hip-hop staples as “Jazzy Sensation,” “Planet Rock” and of course, “Renegades of Funk” (which 90s babies may remember for its excellent funk-metal cover by Rage Against the Machine in 2000). But Bambaataa’s influence has largely overshadowed his relatively obscure hip-hop funk classics.

Among his legacy is the Universal Zulu Nation – a hip-hop awareness group that helped spread hip-hop culture, music and Afrocentric ideologies throughout the world. Bambaataa helped form the group in the late 70s.

Today, Bambaataa remains a highly celebrated artist by countless music scholars and hip-hop nerds. In 2012, he was given a three-year appointment as a visiting scholar at Cornell University – the product of a collaboration between the Ivy League school library’s Hip-Hop Collection and its Music School – and last August, Rolling Stone named him one of “20 Classic Artists Still Not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.”

Considering the enormous legacy Bambaataa has left behind, it’s something of a shame to see him performing in such a small, low-key venue like Duke’s. But all the more power to the fans. This is a rare chance to see an acclaimed, incredibly influential artist up close and in the flesh.

Duke’s Bohemian Grove Bar is located at 253 Allen St. The show begins at 8pm and costs $20 at the door.

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When DJ’s stop creating and start pushing buttons both metaphorically and on Serato, the art of actual turntablism is lost, but tonight in Buffalo, two of the genre’s greatest combine forces to rep the music of yet another musical innovator.

Presented by MNM, a local promotion company with global reach, this stop on the Renegades of Rhythm tour is easily one of the best shows to hit Buffalo all year(s). When two of the best in the game come together to celebrate the work of  Afrika Bambaataa (aka Kevin Donovan) you don’t sleep on it. Genre-shaping hip-hop electro legend and founder of the Universal Zulu Nation, Bambaataa’s entire body of work is now housed at Cornell’s Hip Hop Library, where he is currently a visiting scholar.

DJ Shadow, the DJ and producer responsible for bringing trip-hop to the musical lexicon, emphasizes that the records being spun (on six turntables!) are the originals from Bambaataa’s collection, the “master of records’ records.” Since his acclaimed 1996 debut, the sample-heavy Entroducing, Shadow (government name: Josh Davis) has been a mainstay, helping to develop and shape the instrumental aspect of hip-hop.

The other half of the Renegades of Rhythm is frequent Shadow collaborator Cut Chemist. The DJ and producer (birth name: Lucas MacFadden) has an extensive body of work both musically and in film (catch his cameo as the chemistry teacher in Juno)  is an avid crate digger, who admits “we definitely over pulled” when selecting records for the tour. The careful consideration when curating the music for the tour wasn’t lost on Bambaataa, who fully endorse the duo: “DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist are going to blow your funky mind.”

Doors for the all ages show open at 8, and ticket prices start at $27.50. Openers include 716 staples DJ LoPro and DJ Cutler, along with Brooklyn native turned Buffalo resident DJ Marcos Udagawa.

The post Tonight: DJ Shadow & Cut Chemist first appeared on buffaBLOG.

Tickets are on sale right now for $27.50 in advance, $30 day of. I am guessing this show never reaches that day of price so buy your tickets now.

The post Just Announced: DJ Shadow & Cut Chemist first appeared on buffaBLOG.