Embattled hip-hop pioneer Afrika Bambaataa has found few friends in the hip-hop world ever since child molestation charges were leveled against him, but one of his consistent defenders has been KRS-One. The rapper reiterated his thoughts on the subject recently, saying that he thought people should "quit hip-hop" if they had a problem with Bambaataa. “When you’re talking about Afrika Bambaataa, first of all, you’re talking about the person who invented hip-hop,” KRS-One said. “Not participated in it. There was no hip-hop before Afrika Bambaataa. Let’s start there. So anyone who has a problem with Afrika Bambaataa should quit hip-hop.”
The comments came during an interview in Birmingham, UK recently, and he went in depth about his concern with rushing to judgment. "We're sitting here with no evidence, no conviction, nothing but accusations," he said. "Accusations and gossip. KRS does not get involved with that. Show me the evidence and I will definitely have justice done."
He expressed his hope for "healing for everyone involved," but again expressed deep skepticism about the accusations. "This is what hip-hop has to understand. Some of us are infallible. Some of us are going to have to be untouchable or our entire culture is going to fall. Our culture cannot fall on the accusations of four people. That's weak."
Bambaataa has been accused of sexual assault and molestation by several men. Most of their accusations date back to the early 1980s, far past the statute of limitations on such crimes. Bambaataa has denied all the charges against him, although the Zulu Nation issued an official apology to his alleged victims.
