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July 13, 2009

Afrika Bambaataa, God of Hip-Hop, Lashes Out at His Minions: 'America has systematized your mind to be into materialism'...

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Bambaataa has made a habit of trotting the globe in defense of indigenous peoples’ rights. He’s mediated conflicts in Brazil, Australia and others. He says he’s even been invited to Antarctica, though it seems his services might not be necessary there. Murky as his precise movements may be, there’s one thing that’s very clear: Afrika Bambaataa really doesn’t care about making money.

“You want to buy cars and houses and castles, all of that’s on you and how America has systematized your mind to be into materialism,” he says. “Hip-hop ain’t got nothing to do with that. I’m glad that anybody making money has picked themselves up—I just want them to give some of it back to the community.”