Planet Rock: The Album

by Afrika Bambaataa, Afrika Bambaataa & the Soulsonic Force

Overview

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" 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. ~ Marisa Brown

Product Details

Release Date:	08/16/2024
Label:	Tommy Boy Music
UPC:	0016998100707
Rank:	166726

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Afrika Bambaataa & the Soulsonic Force   Primary Artist
Afrika Bambaataa   Primary Artist,Rap
Shango   Primary Artist
Trouble Funk   Primary Artist
Melle Mel   Primary Artist
Soul Sonic Force   Primary Artist
Pow Wow   Primary Artist,Rap
G.L.O.B.E   Rap
Mr. Biggs   Rap

Technical Credits

Fats Comet   Audio Production,Mixing,Producer
John Robie   Audio Production,Mixing,Composer,Producer
Arthur Baker   Audio Production,Mixing,Composer,Producer
Afrika Bambaataa   Audio Production,Mixing,Composer,Producer,Group Member
John Aquilino   Illustrations,Hand Lettering
Rae Serrano   Mixing,Producer
Steven Miglio   Design,Artwork,Layout Design
Alonzo Williams   Composer
Ray Serrano   Composer
R. Allen   Composer
Nathaniel Russell   Reissue Design,Reissue Art Director
Leroy Evans   Composer,Producer
Bambaataa Aasim   Composer
Tony Moran   Remixing
Andy Wallace   Mixing
Keith LeBlanc   Producer
Latin Rascals   Remixing
Ellis Williams   Composer
Doug Wimbish   Producer
Pow Wow   Performer
Monica Lynch   Art Direction
John Miller   Composer
Adrian Sherwood   Mixing
Skip McDonald   Producer
Soul Sonic Force   Composer
Jay Burnett   Mixing
Albert Cabrera   Remixing
Gary Hobish   Reissue Mastering
E. Williams   Composer
Bambattaa Khayan Aasim   Composer
J. Miller   Composer