Hip hop legend Afrika Bambaataa has apparently been named a visiting scholar at Cornell University. According to an article in Rolling Stone:
Throughout Bambaataa’s three-year term, the pioneering South Bronx DJ and MC will visit the Ivy League school’s campus in Ithaca, New York, several times per year to speak in classes, meet with students and community groups and perform. Bambaataa’s first visit will be in November.
According to the school, Bambaataa’s role marks the first time a hip-hop legend has been appointed a faculty position at a major university.
Well yes, though the country is not exactly swarming with hip hop legends to appoint to faculty positions.
Afrika Bambaataa (born Kevin Donovan) is widely credited as the father of electro-funk, which one can see in its early stages here:
Despite being located in rural New York State, Cornell University apparently owns the largest collection of historical hip hop music in North America.
Bambaataa, as a visiting scholar, will not teach actual credit-bearing classes to students.
