The Restless Native

My Zulu Nation Story Pt.2 Fast forward to 2007, and after over ten years of promoting hip hop events, running a hip hop label and forging a career for myself as a hip hop artist in Scotland, I finally moved to NYC. I have since still occasionally seen Bam at Zulu events and gigs and we have chatted. Recently though, allegations of sexual abuse on the part of Afrika Bambaataa have come to light and obviously someone like myself, with personal ties to him, could be subject to rumors. In all this time I never witnessed inappropriate behavior. There were always rumors though, and now witnesses and victims have come forward, so the case against him is looking strong. If he is guilty, justice should be served for the sake of the victims and, so healing can occur, Bam should get the help he needs. I think it's important to remember the good work he has done for the world through the propagation of hip hop culture. And maybe this is why we've had such a hard time with these allegations. It seems easier to cannonize or demonize someone for their good or bad acts than it is to accept they can be capable of both. I am still a proud member of the Zulu Nation and pray the hip hop community sees this episode as an opportunity for us to heal. #zulunation #zulunationanniversary #afrikabambaataa #uzn #nycstories #bx #hiphop #hiphopculture #hiphophistory #hiphopday #southbronx #writing #writingcommunity #prose #spilledink #scotland #illuminati #nyc #truestory

My Zulu Nation Story Pt 1. This weekend marks the 43rd anniversary of the Universal Zulu Nation and I wanted to take this opportunity to share my personal experiences as a Zulu member for over 20 years now. I was first brought into the nation by the late Lucky Strike, who at the same time introduced me to it's founder and leader Afrika Bambaataa in the South Bronx in 1994. Bam was immediately amused by the fact a Scottish kid had made it accross the Atlantic and up into the Bronx River Projects to meet him. He then handed me a cassette tape he said would school me as to "what was really going on". He also said Scotland had played an important role in this. The tape told the tale of the illuminati, and did indeed focus in parts on Scotland and the secret society's operations from there. Bam's standpoint was that through hip hop culture the youth of the world could be informed and then liberate themselves from this conspiracy. I was hence encouraged to spread this information and hip hop culture in my homeland. This I did. Mostly through the foundation of a monthly hip hop night called SEEN. I also continued to make regular trips to New York and would report back to Bam and pick up new tapes and information, that we in the Zulu Nation refer to as Infinity Lessons. I was even able to bring Bam over to spin an historic set at SEEN. During this visit he also visited my top floor flat in Leith,where we watched more conspiratorial videos. To be continued... #zulunation #zulunationanniversary #afrikabambaataa #uzn #nycstories #bx #hiphop #hiphopculture #hiphophistory #hiphopday #southbronx #writing #writingcommunity #prose #spilledink #scotland #illuminati #nyc #truestory