Afrika Bambaataa & Soulsonic Force - Planet Rock: The Album

Afrika Bambaataa, one of hip-hop's progenitors, was known as a talented DJ before his single Planet Rock came out in 1982 on Tommy Boy. The song, which sampled (actually re-recorded in the studio) elements of Kraftwerk's Trans-Europe Express and was the first R&B track to use an 808, helped define a new movement in music, electro, which then inspired Miami bass and Detroit techno, and pushed the musician's status toward near iconic. Planet Rock: The Album, a collection of singles that came out four years later, captures Bambaataa's energy and innovation. This is his work with Soulsonic Force, which means his collaborations with James Brown (Unity) and John Lydon (World Destruction) are missing, but it's a good collection, the equally interesting Renegades of Funk (in remix form) and Searching for the Perfect Beat also present. There are also three previously unreleased tracks, which although not quite having the impact of the first half of the record, are much more than filler, and include guest appearances from famed Furious Five rapper Melle Mel on Who You Funkin' With? and D.C.'s Trouble Funk, appropriately, on Go Go Pop. The original 12 inch version of the title track is enough to make Planet Rock: The Album a worthwhile purchase, but the inclusion of the other material pushes that to necessary. - by Marisa Brown, All Music Guide Product Description

Renegades of Funk

Renegades of funk is a great song but I think that the Rage Against the Machine version is much better. August 18, 2001

Alot of Hip/Hop&Rap Producers need this in School

with all the sampling,Loops&Beats being taking Afrika Bambaataa&the Soul Sonic Force did it best nearly 20 years back.cleaver usage of Kraftwork&combining it with it's sound you have a Timeless Gem.this Groove still rocks to this day.back in the day it wasn't about how many copies or what have you it was based strictly on Quality&Bop Ability.Great Music doesn't have to worry about Sales if it came cool if not cool.play this Jam Anywhere today&it doesn't matter.Dance Floors will Light up.this is a Hall Of Fame Jam. August 25, 2000

The Begining Of Electric Funk...............

On May of 1982 this 3 song single of Planet Pock was released and it became a new testament in the world of hip-hop. Today, Planet Rock still seems fresh to throw on at anytime of the day. Planet Rock and "Rapper's Delight" By The Sugarhill Gang (1979) are still the most influencial raps songs of all time, even though Rapper's Delight sounds more like an old-school disco song for late 1979. But "Planet Rock" will always live on within anyone who likes hip-hop and electronic music. But enough of the history lesson, let's talk about this 3 song single. The first track is the vocal version of "Planet Rock" with a timing of 6 minutes and 25 seconds. The second track is a bonus beat of "Planet Rock" with a timing of 1 minute and 15 seconds. And of course my favorite the instrumental version of "Planet Rock" with a timing of 9 minutes and 16 seconds. If you ever remember the instrumental version, that's the one that has the robot giving a shout out to all the cities around world. "Rock Rock To The Planet Rock Don't stop, Brooklyn rocks to Planet Rock Don't Stop". You know the rest if you remember. Get this single it's a "best of genre" for a time when breakdancing was still part of the underground until 1984. Don't get the remixes of Planet Rock. Get this 3 song single or get the "Electric Funk" Vol I or the boxed set if you find it, it's such an 80's gem. Then get the 1983 single "Looking For The Perfect Beat", but that's another story. Laterz May 19, 2000

Old-school!

This is the song that got me started listening to rap/bass/dance. I *think* this song was released in the summer of 1980 and sold 600,000 copies within a few years.

What's amazing is that 20 years later this song is STILL getting mixed into current releases. February 3, 2000

This is truly an electro-funk classic.

This is the electro classic which has inspired so many other genres of electronica! Although "Planet Rock" actually has it's humble origins within the song "Trans Europe Express" by Kraftwerk, no one can doubt the impact that "Planet Rock" has made on producers/DJ's all over the world. Even the "Miami Bass" sound is a spinoff of the "Planet Rock" sound. It also heavily influenced the works of such techno godfathers like Kevin Saunderson and Juan Atkins. I've even heard a mix of "Planet Rock" done with the theme from the "Addam's Family" on an old mixtape from Germany back in 1984. Anyone starting to get into the electro sound should begin with this all time classic! I would also recommend any of the releases done by the Jonzun Crew, Man Parrish, and the Planet Patrol for the best electro around. Peace. January 15, 2000

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