Another person has come forward to substantiate allegations that hip-hop icon Afrika Bambaataa molested underage boys. A former member of the Zulu Nation’s security team recently revealed what he saw while working with Bambaataa.
During an interview with New York radio host Star, Shamsideen Sharif Ali Bey discussed how Bambaataa would always have a young boy around. “There’s always a boy in his house. When he leaves and gets home, there’s always a boy there. I’ve seen them camped, asking him for money. He travels with late teens, those are the ones he takes overseas with him. When I went with him on tour in the States, I’d stay in one room, and he would have boys in the room with him. Since the ’70s, it’s been hundreds. I can say I’ve walked in on stuff where I say, what the f— is going on,” Bey said.
In 2007, Bey attempted to have Bambaataa brought up on charges, but he was accused of attempting to get money from the rap legend. Bey was eventually fired from the security detail.
In the past few months, several men have come forward to claim that they were molested by Bambaataa when they were kids. In a video that was posted on YouTube, Bruce Campbell, 39, discussed how Bambaataa took advantage of him during his youth. Campbell said that Bambaataa allowed him to stay at his house when issues would occur at his family’s home. However, Bambaataa used the opportunity to abuse Campbell from the age of 12 until 13. Campbell remained in contact with Bambaataa throughout the years and said the rap legend promised a public apology. However, that apology never came.
Another man named Troy, who wouldn’t give his last name, stepped forward to reveal how he was abused by the rap legend. Troy, like many of the other victims, said the abuse began after Bambaataa would show him pornographic photos in a book. Bambaataa allegedly showed Troy a photo of a penis and told him that he would not be gay if he allowed him to perform oral sex. Moments later, Troy said that Bambaataa sexually abused him. Troy, 51, says that he continues to deal with the traumatic experience of his childhood and wished that the truth had been discovered earlier.
Reps for Bambaataa have denied all claims, but it’s now time for an investigation to occur. it’s important for authorities to look into these cases to see if there was improper contact between Bambaataa and the young men who say they were traumatized by the hip-hop legend.
