Chicago (December 22, 2023)–This morning, an email announcement from the National Park Service listed its approval for a Thematic Listing for the Illinois Chapter of the Black Panther Party. 

The documentation, available at this link, successfully adds the historical context of the Black Panther Party to the Illinois record and sets the criteria for properties affiliated with the chapter to be added to the National Register of Historic Places. 

The first property under the Thematic Listing is the Church of the Epiphany, affectionately called the People’s Church. The Church of the Epiphany was landmarked for its stunning architecture in 1998, and the Historical Preservation Society is seeking an amendment to add the ILBPP’s history to the listing. 

A decision from the National Park Service on the Church of the Epiphany is expected next week. 

HPS Executive Director Leila Wills: “Our Landmarking Committee could not have accomplished this without the Illinois Chapter. We thank them for their participation and involvement in this three-year process. We also thank Amy Hathaway from the Illinois State Historic Preservation Office for her dedication in helping us cross the finish line. She felt this was an important project and spent countless hours on our documentation. Lisa DiChiera (now retired) of Landmarks Illinois was the first to partner with us and was a powerful ally. The Illinois Historic Advisory Council enthusiastically passed our nomination unanimously, sending it to the National Park Service. We thank them for their passionate and encouraging words during the vote. ”

The Landmarking Committee of the Historical Preservation Society is Leila Wills, Mikey Spehn, and Adam Yunis. When they came on board, Mikey and Adam were Loyola University Public History students. Both have since graduated and are still actively involved in the process.

Read Complaint Here

Chicago–Today, Metropolis publisher and journalist Leila Wills filed a lawsuit in the Circuit Court of Cook County against the Universal Zulu Nation, Ronald Savage, Mickey Bentson, and others believed to be Zulu Nation members for several offenses. Namely, falsely accusing her of soliciting Savage into a civil conspiracy. The complaint also says that members of the Zulu Nation engaged in a deliberate and malicious defamation campaign against her because she protested against the Zulu Nation’s perceived financial interests in the Universal Hip Hop Museum.

Wills, who has been covering and investigating the child abuse accusations against Bambaataa and the Zulu Nation for seven years, co-founded Hip Hop Stands With Survivors. After the group held a protest against the Universal Hip Hop Museum, Wills said in the complaint, the defendants launched a coordinated defamation and disinformation campaign against her and the group. 

Savage sent the following statement to the media, wrote it on social media, in emails, and said on videos, “Lelia (sic) then told me that I should tell the lawyer that Bambaataa took me across state lines and molested me, which was sex trafficking. I told her that he never did that, to which she replied, "I know, but we can get Bambaataa on federal charges." I thought to myself, "Wow, she wants me to lie to the lawyer." I spoke with the lawyer, but I refused to follow Lelia's plan.”

On April 3, 2023, Savage also made an illegal and false claim with the United States Patent and Trademark Office declaring Hip Hop Stands With Survivors as his own and applied for the trademark using Defendant Bentson’s Teaneck, NJ address. Defendant Bentson operates a nonprofit called Male Awareness with rapper Ice T and uses the same Teaneck address for the organization. Bentson is a co-founder of the Universal Zulu Nation and a co-founder of the Universal Hip Hop Museum along with Afrika Bambaataa.

Trademark Fraud: 15 U.S. Code § 1120 - Civil liability for false or fraudulent registration: Any person who shall procure registration in the Patent and Trademark Office of a mark by a false or fraudulent declaration or representation, oral or in writing, or by any false means, shall be liable in a civil action by any person injured thereby for any damages sustained in consequence thereof.

Wills realized Savage cloned the organization with his own website on March 30th and she ordered him to cease and desist. He did not.

“Savage and Bentson concocted a scheme to intercept internet traffic looking for Hip Hop Stands With Survivors and to then mischaracterize the organization with disinformation, slander, half-truths, lies, and a false trademark,” Wills said in the complaint.

Leila Wills (this writer) is seeking $10,000 from each of the eight defendants which is the maximum Illinois small claims court will allow. Small claims court is usually the speediest of many court processes and she believes pursuing more than $10,000 out of Ronald Savage would be fruitless. This afternoon’s filing is awaiting a docket number and return date. Should there be any error that she has to correct, the case will be refiled once complete. April 25, 2023 Update: The court accepted Leila Wills’ case filing, case number is 20231300560, first hearing is June 13, 2023. Metropolis

Read Complaint Here

New York (April 16, 2023)–Whistleblower Leila Wills on behalf of Hip Hop Stands With Survivors filed a formal complaint with the New York Attorney General against the Universal Hip Hop Museum for receiving millions of taxpayer dollars with no transparency and lack of oversight. The summary of the complaint states, “misleading the public, using taxpayer dollars with no oversight, conflicts of interest, undue influence, financial relationships with the Zulu Nation, lack of transparency, lack of diversity, ignoring public requests for information, nonresponsive board.” A special report on Bucano and the museum was part of the complaint.

On March 27th, the collective Hip Hop Stands With Survivors held a protest at City Hall demanding museum co-founder and executive director Rocky Bucano’s resignation or an end to taxpayer money funding the institution. Bucano has refused to step down and issued a statement denying affiliation with accused sex trafficker Afrika Bambaataa and his Universal Zulu Nation since 2016. 

Wills, a journalist who has been investigating the child abuse allegations against Bambaataa and the Universal Zulu Nation for seven years, provided documentation proving the museum’s continued promotion and affiliation. In part, the museum hosted the Zulu Nation’s anniversary in November 2022, has partnered with Zulu co-founder Mickey Bentson on several events, hired or contracted Zulu member and Bambaataa affiliate Stanley Bell aka Muhammad Islam for the museum’s security, and promoted Bambaataa himself on its Twitter page. Bambaataa even visited the museum to autograph the Zulu Nation sign in the DJ booth.

Bambaataa coined the term Universal Hip Hop Culture, calls himself the God of Universal Hip Hop Culture, his organization is the Universal Zulu Nation, and he co-founded the Universal Hip Hop Museum.

Bucano refuses to change the name of the museum despite the negative connotations it invokes.

Hip Hop Stands With Survivors maintains Bucano does not possess proper judgment, is compromised by Bambaataa and the UZN, and is not fit to be the shepherd of a public institution and public funds. Senator Chuck Schumer and other New York legislators have completely ignored Hip Hop Stands With Survivors and the organization is deciding which of his offices will be the site of its next protest. 

Wills, who is experiencing targeted attacks and a deliberate disinformation campaign from the Universal Zulu Nation, is not backing down.

“We hope Attorney General Letitia James understands the gravity of our complaint. We do not want one child to be harmed the way these men say they were, ” said Leila Wills. “The John Doe lawsuit against Bambaataa is taking forever for a final judgment but Bambaataa offered no defense and could not have been a serial abuser for over 40 years without enablers.” Metropolis

Images Showing Universal Hip Hop Museum’s Continued Affiliation with the Universal Zulu Nation

Museum Co-Sponsors Zulu Event

The museum co-sponsoring a Zulu Nation event. Logos on the flyer belong to the museum, Mickey Bentson's Art of Rap, the Aquarius Boys, which is Zulu Mickey Bentson and Zulu Shawn Thoman aka Cutman LG, the Zulu Warriors is Stanley Bell aka Muhammad Islam

Zulu Stanley Bell aka Muhammad Islam

UHHM Partnering With Stanley Bell - Bell is celebrating new business arrangements with the museum and is funded by the city

Zulu Security at Museum

Zulu Stanley Bell aka Muhammad Islam thanking God at the UHHM

Zulu Warriors Security

Zulu Stanley Bell aka Muhammad Islam is far left and is doing security for the museum

New York–Hip Hop Stands With Survivors maintains, as detailed in the extensive report on Rocky Bucano and the Universal Hip Hop Museum, that Afrika Bambaataa and the Universal Zulu Nation exert undue influence on Bucano. The statement released by Bucano is another attempt to cover up Bambaataa and the UZN’s involvement in the museum. 

Senator Chuck Schumer and other New York legislators who are charged with safeguarding the public’s money appear to be asleep at the wheel and have not addressed this issue nor read our extensive report. Schumer’s office would not even give Hip Hop Stands With Survivors an email address to send the report.

Hip Hop Stands With Survivors held a public protest on Monday, March 27th demanding Bucano’s resignation OR an end to public funding. In a statement Mayor Adams released to the Bronx Times, a spokesperson said, “Any form of sexual abuse is reprehensible and we condemn any individual or organization involved with these acts. After allegations surfaced, the Universal Hip Hop Museum assured the administration that they cut ties with the Universal Zulu Nation and that Afrika Bambaataa has not had a role at the Universal Hip Hop Museum since 2016. Our administration stands with survivors of sexual abuse.” 

Hip Hop Stands With Survivors finds this response to be noncommittal double-speak. "We want to speak to Mayor Adams, Chuck Schumer, and the rest of the legislators giving our money to this museum," said journalist Leila Wills who has been investigating the Bambaataa, the museum, and the Zulu Nation for seven years. "Mayor Adams cannot issue a statement and that is the end of it. We want to talk to him and we want the money to stop until this is resolved."

Bucano’s statement repeats that Bambaataa and the UZN have had no role at the museum since 2016. However, Bucano continued to advertise and promote Bambaataa and the UZN as the attached 2018 and 2020 tweets show. 

• On November 14, 2022, Bucano even shouted out the Zulu Nation in the mayor’s presence. 

• Bucano also recently snuck Bambaataa into the museum unbeknownst to the public. 

• Bucano held the Zulu Nation’s anniversary at the museum in November. 

• He has also hired Zulu member and Bambaataa’s alleged enabler Muhammad Islam, real name Stanley Bell, and his company the Zulu Warriors to do security for the museum. 

• Mickey Bentsen, a longtime Zulu member, Bambaataa’s attack dog and alleged enabler, has been a part of weekend events at the museum. All while Bambaataa and the UZN are defendants in a child sex trafficking lawsuit to which they have not responded.

• As far as governance, longtime UZN member Shawn Thomas aka Cutman LG was a lifetime board member until Hip Hop Stands With Survivors began its inquiry. Thomas is also the Director of Music Programming and two large Zulu Nation banners are on full display in the museum near the DJ booth.

Hip Hop Stands With Survivors believes the museum is signaling pedophiles in its advertisements and children are not safe there. 

Rocky Bucano must resign or public dollars funding the institution must stop. 

Bucano’s irreversible and unbroken bonds of friendship and continued business relations with Bambaataa and the UZN are explicit conflicts of interest. IRS regulations forbid conflicts of interest and Hip Hop Stands With Survivors will demand the agency revokes the museum’s nonprofit status if Bucano does not resign. 

The IRS states, “Apart from any appearance of impropriety, organizations will lose their tax-exempt status unless they operate in a manner consistent with their charitable purposes. Serving private interests more than insubstantially is inconsistent with accomplishing charitable purposes.” 

We urge the FBI, the IRS, and journalists to read the special report on Bucano and the museum and to conduct their own investigations. 

Mayor Adams, Senator Schumer, Jamaal Bowman, and other legislators must stop public funding until Bucano resigns and a new board is in place. Microsoft is a publicly traded company and its general counsel, Bruce Jackson, sits on the museum’s board along with Ruben Diaz, Jr. who helped secure $4.2 million of public funds while in office. 

Voting members of the museum’s board include Bucano, Jackson, Diaz, Adam Silverstein, and Peter Bittenbender. Outside of Bucano, the rest of the board has been silent. Metropolis

VIDEO: Rocky Bucano Shouts Out Universal Zulu Nation at Mayor Eric Adams Press Conference

Minute: 3:04

VIDEO OF PROTEST, MARCH 27, 2023

VIDEO: Leila Wills on Rocky Bucano and the Universal Zulu Nation

New York –A collective of victim advocates, sexual abuse survivors, professionals, activists, and parents are demanding an end to taxpayer money funding the Universal Hip Hop Museum (UHHM) in the Bronx. In an extensive report sent to the museum’s attorney and Mayor Eric Adams’ administration, Hip Hop Stands With Survivors details numerous conflicts of interest, undue influence, and continued affiliation accused pedophile Afrika Bambaataa and his Universal Zulu Nation have with the museum and its executive director Rocky Bucano.

UHHM co-founder, Lance Taylor aka Afrika Bambaataa, and the Universal Zulu Nation are defendants in a child sex trafficking lawsuit filed on August 4, 2021, by an anonymous man alleging they abused and trafficked him beginning at 12 years old. Neither has responded to the 17-month-long case awaiting a final verdict. 

Understanding the heinous civil charges and allegations against Bambaataa and the UZN is what makes Bucano’s continued relations with them unacceptable. The museum’s voting board members do not include women, any of the Bambaataa survivors, or any child advocates to protect children after several men accused the UHHM’s co-founder of sexual abuse and child sex trafficking.

In an interview, the founder and chief executive officer at CHILD USA, an interdisciplinary think tank to prevent child abuse and neglect, Prof. Marci Hamilton said that serial child abusers thrive in a secret universe where they and fellow abusers can operate under the radar. They must be held to account by law enforcement and the institutions in their universe. Children will not be protected from sexual abuse until our society stops giving abusers a pass, and that includes the famous and those who break new ground. Talent and fame do not immunize anyone from the law or public accountability. Organizations that capitalize on those who sexually abused children owe society and especially children full transparency and integrity.

Afrika Bambaataa named his personal army the Universal Zulu Nation, became God and named his gospel Universal Hip Hop Culture, and co-founded the Universal Hip Hop Museum. 

“We believe the Universal Hip Hop Museum is signaling pedophiles by its name, language, and the promotion and hiring of the Universal Zulu Nation. We also believe that pedophiles will understand this signaling to mean they will find safety in corporate silence and a new hunting ground for child victims,” said journalist Leila Wills who has been covering the Bambaataa story for several years. “If one child is harmed at the museum, it will be because the UHHM board and the City of New York failed to act after receiving our report.”

The museum has not issued a social responsibility statement or severed ties with Bambaataa and the UZN. It has also ramped up its promotion of the UZN under the leadership of executive director Rocky Bucano and just hosted another party for them this past Saturday. “The museum is misleading the public by denying any affiliation and we believe children are in danger,” said Wills. 

Mayor Adams’ administration nor the museum has responded to the report and Senator Chuck Schumer’s office refused to provide an email address for the report. Hip Hop Stands With Survivors is demanding Rocky Bucano’s resignation and an end to taxpayer dollars going to the museum. The group will host a protest on Monday, March 27, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. at New York’s City Hall, 260 Broadway in Manhattan. 

The grievances Hip Hop Stands With Survivors have against the Universal Hip Hop Museum indicate a larger problem in Hip Hop. We stand with all survivors to rid our beloved Hip Hop community of sexual abuse in all forms. Stand with us on March 27th. Hip Hop Stands With Survivors urge media professionals to read the report and cover this issue in the interest of an unsuspecting public.

• Media availability on March 27th will be at 10:00 a.m.

• A list of authorized and confirmed speakers will be posted soon.

READ SPECIAL REPORT–PUBLIC MONEY, UNDUE INFLUENCE, CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: ROCKY BUCANO AND THE UNIVERSAL HIP HOP MUSEUM

Chicago (September 20, 2022)–The Historical Preservation Society of the Illinois Chapter of the Black Panther Party (HPS) is pursuing a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places to mark the Black Panthers’ work and activism in Illinois. The HPS Landmarking Committee plans to present its multiple property submission (MPS) to the Illinois State Preservation Office in February 2023 and is launching a public awareness campaign on October 13, 2022, with a series of educational events at the Chicago History Museum.

Leila Wills, whose parents were members of the Illinois Chapter of the Black Panther Party, spearheads the landmarking committee and started the project in 2020 while working with Fred Hampton, Jr. and Lisa DiChiera of Landmarks Illinois on landmarking the childhood home of Illinois Chairman Fred Hampton in Maywood. Her ongoing research includes a compiled survey of properties in Chicago and Illinois. 

“I wanted to tell the story of the Black Panther Party by location,” said Leila Wills. “On the west side, the Party’s headquarters is now a Walgreens. The south side office is also gone. The Black Panther Party’s work changed lives and legislation and we don’t want them wiped out of our city and state’s memory. Each property has an associated history that is important to our heritage.”

After hearing the depth of the project, DiChiera suggested an MPS and brought in Loyola University’s Public History Director Ted Karamanski. Two of his then students, Mikey Spehn and Adam Yunis, volunteered to join the project, and together, they comprise the landmarking committee. The head of the HPS, to organize the effort, is the Black Panther Party’s Illinois Minister of Education, Billy “Ché” Brooks, a lifelong social justice advocate dedicated to helping young people develop the social, cultural, and analytical skills necessary to approach life, current conditions, and issues of justice. The HPS has over 50 members who support the initiative.

At the Chicago History Museum on October 13, 2022, at 7:00 p.m., Brooks will lead a panel discussion on the Party’s work after a landmarking presentation by Leila Wills. Wanda Ross, the key organizer of the Breakfast Program, and Ralph Bostick who helped establish the free Medical Center will join Brooks on the panel. Design Trust Chicago is co-hosting a MAPPED-A-THON session earlier the same day to begin an online database of Party properties. The Chicago Community Trust is co-sponsoring the event. In-kind supporters include Lawyers for the Creative Arts, Design Trust Chicago, and Free Spirit Media.

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Bronx–Afrika Bambaataa and the Zulu Nation have yet to respond to a child sex trafficking lawsuit filed by an anonymous plaintiff on August 4, 2021. The plaintiff’s lawyer, Hugo Ortega, is now seeking to serve Lance Taylor, the absentee hip hop pioneer known as Bambaataa, by publication. If Judge Alicia Gerez grants this request, she will give Ortega specific orders such as placing the summons in a New York newspaper for 28 consecutive days. 

If Bambaataa ignores this latest service attempt, the attorney will seek the default judgment again. The anonymous plaintiff, John Doe, is seeking the maximum damages allowed under the Child Victims Act.

The Zulu Nation is currently preparing for its November anniversary and said in a previous statement, “This is a personal matter for Afrika Bambaataa and his lawyers to deal with…”

We will provide updates as they come in.

Stay tuned. Metropolis

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Hip Hop Pioneer May Have Fled the United States to Avoid Child Sex Trafficking Lawsuit

Bronx–In a new filing dated August 11, 2022, John Doe’s attorney Hugo Ortega asked Judge Alicia Gerez for a 60-day adjournment to track down Afrika Bambaataa who has been unresponsive to a year-long civil lawsuit. 

Bambaataa, whose real name is Lance Taylor, stayed in the home of deceased Zulu member Kenny Smith aka Lord Yoda X. Smith died in September 2020 and, according to sources, Bambaataa remained in the house. 

According to the filing in Bronx Supreme Court, the “building is now vacant and in the throes of a complete rehab.”  

Sources now say Bambaataa may have fled the United States altogether.

 Bambaataa and the Zulu Nation are being sued by an anonymous man who alleges Bambaataa abused and trafficked him over several years beginning at age 12. 

 Several more men are ready to offer testimony corroborating John Doe’s claims with their own stories of abuse they say Bambaataa committed when they were underage.

 In a recent development, Ronald Savage, who brought his story of abuse to the public in 2016, has since forgiven Bambaataa and indicated that Zulu Nation friends pass messages to him from Bambaataa. 

 He also recently said on video that Bambaataa is living overseas. (Both audios are below)

Smith was a Bambaataa loyalist to the very end and stayed with Bambaataa when the Zulu Nation split. Neighbors confirm Bambaataa had been living at the Teaneck address where occupants received court summonses on Bambaataa’s behalf. 

The other survivors are standing by for court action and they hope Bambaataa is found. “He should not be able to get away with this scot-free,” said one man.

 If you have information on the whereabouts of Lance Taylor aka Afrika Bambaataa please contact us right away. 

 Although this is a civil suit, there is no federal statute of limitations for child sex trafficking. Metropolis

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Bronx-On July 11, 2022, a technicality caused Bronx Superior Court Judge Alexander Tisch to deny John Doe’s April 11th motion for a default judgment in the child sex trafficking case against Afrika Bambaataa. John Doe, the anonymous plaintiff, must submit a new document and motion for the default judgment against Bambaataa. 

Bambaataa, whose real name is Lance Taylor, has not responded to the civil lawsuit that alleges the hip-hop icon charged other men cash to have sex with the plaintiff. The plaintiff, John Doe, alleges that the child sex trafficking, which has no statute of limitations in federal criminal law, started when he was 12. 

As noted in court records, “defendants who do not appear are ‘deemed to have admitted all factual allegations contained in the complaint and all reasonable inferences that flow from them.’”  John Doe must now submit an affidavit swearing to the facts put forth in the original complaint before he can get the default judgment.

We were the first to report the Childs Victims Act lawsuit filed against Bambaataa last August. Metropolis

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Bronx, NY (June 7, 2022)–The time allowed by law for Afrika Bambaataa and the Zulu Nation to respond to a lawsuit brought under the Child Victims Act has expired. The suit alleges Bambaataa committed “predatory and wrongful acts in grooming, abusing, raping, sodomizing, and trafficking” a 12-year-old boy at a Zulu Nation office and other locations. The attorney for John Doe, the plaintiff who was granted anonymity in a previous motion, filed a second motion in the case, asking the court for a default judgment. 

In this second motion, Attorney Hugo Ortega of Tanner and Ortega LLP is asking that John Doe receive the default judgment because Bambaataa, whose real name is Lance Taylor, has not appeared nor answered the complaint filed on August 4, 2021.

Bambaataa had until October 24, 2021, to respond to the initial summons and complaint. To date, he has not filed a response nor has an attorney on record. Ortega is also asking for an inquest on the plaintiff’s damages, which he has not yet specified. 

Ortega moved to default judgment on April 11, 2022, and a server delivered a copy of the motion and summons to Bambaataa on April 30, 2022. A woman who refused to give her name at his last known residence in Teaneck, NJ, accepted the service. They described her as white, 5’4, and approximately 160 pounds, with blonde and black hair. The server also sent a copy of the summons through US mail. 

Bambaataa had until May 31, 2022, to respond to the motion for default judgment.

He has not responded and a decision from the judge is imminent. Metropolis

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Bronx–Afrika Bambaataa is due in court via virtual conference on Monday, November 1, 2021, for the first hearing of the child sex trafficking lawsuit filed against him by a former member of his organization. Plaintiff attorney Hugo Ortega is requesting that the court allow anonymity in records and proceedings and the court has ordered Bambaataa to show cause on why it should not grant this request. Although Bambaataa and his attorney(s) would know the identity of the plaintiff, who is now using the pseudonym John Doe, a court order would ban them from revealing his name to the public and/or media.

On August 9, 2021, an unidentified man filed a civil lawsuit under the Child Victims Act (CVA) against Afrika Bambaataa, whose real name is Lance Taylor. In John Doe vs Lance Taylor, the plaintiff alleges hip hop pioneer Afrika Bambaataa began sexually victimizing him as a twelve-year-old boy. It further alleges Bambaataa committed crimes of child sex trafficking by transporting the boy to different locations for other males to violate him in exchange for money. The suit also names the Zulu Nation as a defendant, a so-called hip hop awareness group that was founded by Bambaataa. 

In criminal cases, anonymity is clear

Courts have afforded victims of sexual crimes the use of a pseudonym when there has been an investigation, arrest, or prosecution. Sexual offenses, by nature, are intimately sensitive violations that can attach long-lasting embarrassment and re-victimization once they become publicly known. Without privacy protection, victims could under-report, not cooperate with investigations and court proceedings. Because victims could fear coming forward, perpetrators may not get caught and sexual crimes could go unchecked.

Some defendants have challenged the Child Victims Act and issues of anonymity since its enactment. In 2019, New York Justice George Silver set a precedent in a CVA case against the New York Archdiocese when he upheld the same privacy provisions provided in criminal cases for the plaintiff in that civil case. 

In his decision, Silver wrote, “To be sure, the legislature [regarding the CVA] wanted to avoid exposing alleged victims to the lasting scars of broadcasted exposure while ‘helping the public identify hidden child predators through civil litigation discovery, and shift the significant and lasting costs of child sexual abuse to the responsible parties.’ Considering the foregoing, it is axiomatic that plaintiff should be afforded the protection of anonymity.”  Read Justice George Silver’s Decision 

Stigma and embarrassment are compounded for male victims of sex crimes

With Afrika Bambaataa, the stigma and embarrassment are compounded for the men who have made charges against Bambaataa because the alleged victims are Black and Latino males, most of whom identify as heterosexual men. Whispers of male-on-male sexual abuse are not even heard in some of these households and communities. But the allegations against Bambaataa forced these conversations into the public sphere. Male-on-male assault was something warned to protect against in jail, but not at home, church, or school. Even in the current social justice era and with the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements, male victims of sexual assault say they have not found space. 

In 2015, Hassan Campbell publicly accused Bambaataa of sexually abusing him, also beginning at 12 years old. While most of the listening public was sympathetic and outraged when his story came out, as time went by, some were not. Campbell identifies as heterosexual and for years, his detractors accused him of “wanting it” as a child and being homosexual as an adult. This had a chilling effect on other men, who wanted to corroborate the allegations against Bambaataa.

Intimidation

To make matters worse, most of the men who publicly accused Bambaataa of such heinous behavior knew all too well what could happen to them.

Hassan Campbell, and others who spoke under anonymity, openly discussed how “strong” the Zulu Nation was. Talking ill about Bambaataa could get you “seriously hurt,” Campbell stated. 

These fears are not unfounded.

Bambaataa made his apartment in Bronx River Houses headquarters for the Zulu Nation.

The group/gang became so powerful that Bronx River Houses’ residents complained they were afraid and being held hostage by them.

In 1995, Mayor Giuliani and the NYPD launched an investigation and kicked them out of their Bronx River Housing base.  

Watch Video of Zulu Nation Former International Spokesman TC Izlam: I Would’ve Been Dead

Grandmaster TC Izlam, whose real name is Tony Bell, allowed this writer to record him recounting death threats he received after speaking out against Bambaataa in 2017. An Atlanta man, Taleeb Paige, killed Izlam three weeks after the interviews and is serving 30 years without parole for his murder.

No one identified Paige as a member of the Zulu Nation or as an affiliate of Bambaataa and neither was charged in that crime. Yet, Izlam’s murder had paralyzing reverberations on the alleged victims and others who had not come forward.

The climate intensified by several degrees as rumors spread about his killing.

John Doe’s Safety

In an affidavit filed on August 10, 2021, John Doe said his request for anonymity primarily comes out of fear for his life. The affidavit reads in part, “My concerns with being identified go beyond the ordinary reticence to be identified as a victim of sexual abuse or as an object of sex trafficking. Though I certainly would prefer not to be the subject of that kind of unwelcome attention, my real concern is with my personal safety. I and many other victims of the defendant have been in fear of the consequences if we speak out...I also fear for my life.”

Continuing, John Doe stated, “...he [the defendant] has affiliates who may take direct action to stifle attacks.” 

In 2013, a stabbing allegedly took place. The incident involved a young man who, according to several sources close to Bambaataa, was approximately 18 or 19 years old. One source had seen the teen at parties and other Zulu Nation functions.

A rumor circulated that Bambaataa had drugged and date-raped the teen. When the teen woke up to Bambaataa performing oral sex on him, he began stabbing him. The exact details of what took place that night were sketchy, and Bambaataa and the Zulu Nation publicly denied a stabbing had taken place. 

Interestingly, and also very concerning is that this writer spoke to four members of the Zulu Nation and all said that Bambaataa passed out information on the young man in addition to the teen’s picture with unspoken orders to “handle the situation” and “get rid” of him. 

Writer and author Khalil Amani published a story about the stabbing. A few days later, Amani received a call from an industry insider who said the Zulu Nation was not happy about the article. One person contacted Amani directly and said, “You know you can be touched, right?” He took the article down but reposted it a few days later.

Journalist and best-selling author Dave Wedge wrote an extensive piece on the allegations against Bambaataa. He and his partner, Casey Sherman, recently published two episodes on Bambaataa on their podcast, Saints, Sinners and Serial Killers. He too says a Zulu Nation soldier threatened him. 

If the court grants John Doe anonymity from the public and media, Bambaataa would still know his true identity. What would stop him from alerting his top soldiers, many of whom surround him to this very day? Are there any other remedies for John Doe? 

Justice George Silver was to preside over the John Doe vs Lance Taylor, aka Afrika Bambaataa, hearing on November 1, 2021. He retired from the New York Supreme Court on September 30, 2021. 

The likelihood of Silver’s replacement to rule against his decision for privacy protection for victims is extremely low. Silver’s decision to uphold the use of a pseudonym by alleged victims of sexual abuse in civil proceedings has affected thousands of cases.

As of now, Bambaataa has no attorney on record and has made no filings with the court. The real questions are; will he show up on November 1st and how can John Doe stay safe while pursuing justice? Metropolis

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The YouTube title was just that, a YouTube title. I can change a YouTube title as easily as a Facebook post. 

Read why the interview series was entitled, Zulu Nation: Hip Hop’s First Gay Family

It’s funny because in early August, I was preparing to change the YouTube title back to the film’s original title, Trapped In A Culture. The whole point of the YouTube title was to bring the Zulu Nation under scrutiny because they had been more than happy to let Bambaataa take the heat by himself. The YouTube title ensured it would also call the organization into question because, like the R Kelly case proved, one man could not run a criminal enterprise of abuse without helpers, participants, and enablers. 

No one knew about John Doe’s lawsuit. The suit names the Zulu Nation as a defendant right along with Afrika Bambaataa. The Zulu Nation would indeed be held accountable in a court of law and I was more than happy to change the title back to Trapped In A Culture. 

That is, until members of the Zulu Nation threatened me about the title and went all over social media condemning me and the title. Once they did that, my plan to change the title ceased because I would not even give the appearance that I succumbed to their threats and insults and told them just as much.

None of these people had even listened to the Trapped In A Culture podcast, and no one cared about the status of the film for at least four years. But throw the word “gay” in the same sentence as the Zulu Nation and all would hell break loose. (Meanwhile, these are the same people who claim they are not “homophobic.”) 

If I had released the interview series on YouTube under Trapped In A Culture, the only people watching would have been me and Afrika Bambaataa. Troi “Star” Torain, who came up with the YouTube title, knew it needed to be repackaged for social media. The interview series now has over one million views.

People have a love for salacious sensationalism while parading self-righteousness and are just as much to blame for the Gay Family title as I am. Consider it an experiment and look at your own results.

Nevertheless, the YouTube title had served its purpose and the controversy that ensued showed how many people did not care about the survivors at all. They only cared about the organization and castigating anyone who would try to “destroy” their flawed concept of what a conscious and/or black organization is supposed to be about. 

As long as you preach consciousness or blackness, no one, especially a woman, better dare question you. They called me every horrible insult you could imagine. These people had more venom for me than for the alleged perpetrator. My complexion and everything else was thrown in. Someone even said I needed the shit slapped out of me…and this is someone who is supposed to have “knowledge of self” and civilization. HA! Needless to say, I was not changing the title under those low degrees.

With the survivors, we have two sets of alleged victims in the Afrika Bambaataa and Zulu Nation situation. One group of men left the Zulu Nation completely. The second group stayed in the organization because of work, lifelong friendships, and other endeavors, and still identify as Zulus. It is some in this second set of alleged victims that took the title as an affront. The title did not bother the first group in the least. 

I explained to all of them that no new person who joined the Zulu Nation changed the essence of their foundation. If what they said was true, they built the Zulu Nation on downlow gay behavior within the organization. And, this is not even mentioning the alleged child trafficking and abuse.

Understand, as a woman, I have a right to go on an all out rampage against the Zulu Nation for living on the downlow while claiming wives and girlfriends. And, no Zulu bozos were going to threaten me and force me to do anything. I had planned to change the title but then I would not.

Other reasons for the title were:

• Five alleged victims said that Bambaataa has books of Polaroid shots of naked male Zulu members in sexually explicit poses.

• Hassan Campbell said that Bambaataa had sex with older Zulu members in front of him when he was a minor. 

• TC Izlam said he confiscated a list of Zulu members having homosexual relations with another Zulu member. 

• Ronald Savage said when he was 15 and Bambaataa finished teaching him how to masturbate, another Zulu member came into the bedroom. That person had his penis already out. 

• Ronald Savage said Bambaataa made him “go down” on his sister’s boyfriend. This boyfriend was also a member of the Zulu Nation.  

• Lord Shariyf said he walked in on Bambaataa and another high-ranking male official engaging in self-pleasure while watching porn. 

So, I am not sorry for the YouTube title, Zulu Nation: Hip Hop’s First Gay Family and if it were not for John Doe, and his lawsuit, that title would remain.

In the very first conversation John Doe and I had, he told me how Trapped In A Culture was really impactful toward the issues at hand. 

And, of course, he’s right. Metropolis

The interview series now has over 1,000,000 views

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Yesterday, the Metropolis was the first to report on the Child Sex Trafficking lawsuit filed against Afrika Bambaataa and the Zulu Nation.

John Doe vs. Lance Taylor and the Zulu Nation is pursuant of the Child Victims Act which grants adult survivors of child sexual abuse an opportunity to seek justice.

Today, the Zulu Nation released the statement below in response.

OFFICIAL UZN-WORLD DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS STATEMENT ON THE TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2021
MEDIA REPORTED LEGAL ACTIONS AGAINST AFRIKA BAMBAATAA & MEMBERS OF THE UNIVERSAL ZULU NATION

Wednesday, September 8, 2021

The Overall Mission, Purpose, Goals & Objectives Of The Universal Zulu Nation-World Department Of Community Affairs; Is To Use Socially Conscious Grassroot Hip Hop Culture As A (R)evolutionary Tool For Global Humanism, Inner/Over/Understanding, Liberation, Self-Determination, Peace, Health, And The Physical & Spiritual Oneness With Mother Earth.

Nothing has changed since 2016 when these decades ago accusations first surfaced. This is a personal matter for Afrika Bambaataa and his lawyers to deal with and has absolutely nothing to do with the 10 year long UZN-DOCA mission, programs and projects which continue in the revolutionary legacy of both The Black Panther Party & The Young Lords Party to "Serve The People, Body & Soul."

If anyone is truly interested in all of the positive work that the UZN-DOCA does then we will be more than happy to address any of our below Community Survival Programs:

Free Food Project ~ Free The Land Farms & Urban Gardens Project ~ Martial Arts & Self-Defense Project ~ Emergency Preparedness Project ~

Healing & Health Projects ~ Anti-Police Terror & Community Control Over The Police Campaign ~ Children's Rights Of Passage Program ~

Prisoner Advocacy & Free All Political Prisoners Projects ~ Black, Brown & Asian Solidarity Project ~ International Hip Hop 4 Humanity Tour ~

The Young Fathers Support Circle ~ Youth Sports ~ Black Panther Party Legacy Political Education Classes ~ Housing & Legal First Aid.

But we will neither make nor provide any further comments or responses regarding the aforementioned legal matter.

Ukuthua Amandla Awetu - All Power To The People

Panther-Zulu Nation King Sadiki "Bro. Shep" Olugbala, Executive Director

Universal Zulu Nation - World Department Of Community Affairs

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Before I started filming in 2017, the working title was tRAPped in a CULTure. The documentary was to focus on the shocking allegations of child sexual abuse against Hip Hop Pioneer Afrika Bambaataa. During interviews, it became apparent that other members of his Zulu Nation had allegedly took part, encouraged, and aided in the alleged abuse of minors. 

I was never planning to let these other Zulu Nation members off the hook by focusing on Bambaataa only.

The documentary was shopped, pitched, and mentioned to major media outlets, streaming services, executives, and agents. During this time, Hassan Campbell, one of the two alleged victims who showed their face, had received his comeuppance on YouTube. He received a groundswell of support from an outraged and sympathetic public which he segued into a new persona of trolling celebrities. He let it be known, “I never wanted Afrika Bambaataa to go to jail.” It was not long before he shed his image of a child advocate and someone seeking justice from his alleged abuser. 

Ronald Savage, the other alleged victim, was pursuing a new career as a rapper and using videos of Tik Tok girls as the backdrop to his music. He also dropped his pursuit of justice from the courts. 

After receiving initial interest, all media outlets passed on the project.

The clock was ticking and was about to run out. The statute of limitations for adult survivors of abuse ends in New York on August 14, 2021. After this date, Hassan, Ronald, and other alleged victims cannot sue Bambaataa or any other Zulu member. 

For me personally, this story was dark and heavy and after the last pass, it was time to let it go. Also, the abusive nature of the people involved in this story spilled out onto me so it was dark, heavy, and confrontational at every turn. More on this later.

After the last pass, I called Troi “Star” Torain and said I was going to release all the footage for free on YouTube for everyone who was interested. We entered discussion, and he came up with the title, Zulu Nation: Hip Hop’s First Gay Family. 

My immediate reaction to him was, “I love it.” 

Here’s why I am not changing the title:

• Hassan Campbell said that Bambaataa had sex with older Zulu members in front of him when he was a minor. 

• TC Izlam said he confiscated a list of Zulu members having homosexual relations with another Zulu member. 

• Ronald Savage said when he was 15 and Bambaataa finished teaching him how to masturbate, another Zulu member came into the bedroom. That person had his penis already out. 

• Ronald Savage said Bambaataa made him “go down” on his sister’s boyfriend. This boyfriend was also a member of the Zulu Nation.  

• Five alleged victims said that Bambaataa has books of Polaroid shots of naked male Zulu members in sexually explicit poses. 

• Lord Shariyf said he walked in on Bambaataa and another high-ranking male official engaging in self-pleasure while watching porn. 
  
  

The argument is that it was not "all" Zulu members and I believe that is true. However, the nature and foundation of this organization seems to be built on homosexual activities and grooming young boys into these same activities. This is according to my interviews, research, audio and video footage. 

The focus on black boys from the projects being allegedly abused is the same as it was when it was Trapped In A Culture. Very few supported the documentary when it was called Trapped In A Culture. Hassan Campbell and Ronald Savage didn’t even support it.

The title Star came up with woke everyone up. Before now, I did not hear from most of you at all. Now that it is called the First Gay Family, you want to show your heads and challenge me instead of being mad that you got duped, used, and abused by your own leadership.

I understand outer/peripheral Zulu Nation members being insulted by the title. However, they should consider themselves honorable when they left the organization after finding out what was going on. They should look into suing the Zulu Nation because they joined this organization in good faith and their reputations, work, and projects all suffered when the allegations came out.

Disagreement with the title does not change the reality of the organization and what they were allegedly involved in. The founding father and the founding chapter of the Universal Zulu Nation allegedly recruited young boys and others into an organization where child sexual abuse and statutory rape were allegedly running rampant. 

You joined something you did not have full knowledge of.

It is your leadership's fault. 

Not mine. Metropolis

*The interview footage is being aired for free on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/LeilaWills

Join us on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays for new episodes.

We have live discussions after all three air.

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I heard about your story back in 2017 and I listened to all the struggles that you went through and I could relate so much to the pain that you experienced from PTSD to suicidal ideations feeling ashamed to come out and tell your story. I was truly inspired that you found the strength to be open and honest and speak your truth and let me just say I believe you and I’m so sorry about what happened to you. Dealing with this type of trauma can send anyone off the deep end. It’s hard for all survivors to come to terms with what happened and the fact that you as a male came forward was something unheard of in the hip hop industry. So, I commend you for that. 

I became an avid supporter of your channel, however over time I saw you go from victim/survivor to someone that would disrespect anyone that did not agree with you, and you would go on your page and humiliate people over the smallest things. You would disrespect people’s children and as far as I am concerned kids are off limit when it comes to adult issues. I get that people were coming for you and you felt the need to defend yourself in certain situations, but you have gone too far. 

As a survivor of child sexual abuse, the things that you have said on the internet are unbelievable. The saying goes hurt people hurt people but that’s not always the case nor is it necessary. This is not a letter to bash you but to get you to see that it’s ok to seek therapy so that you may start the journey of healing yourself so that you can be a better person for yourself and your family. 

Calling women out of their names is totally unacceptable and I’m sure you would not want the people that you love to have to deal with that kind of abuse. None of us are perfect but we do know right from wrong. Every one that comes at you does not need a response, it takes up way too much energy. Instead, focus on the people that have supported you and have gone out of their way to show you love. You never turn your back on someone because they don’t necessarily agree with everything you say. People are entitled to their own views but if you would just keep the focus on what’s important things might be different for you. 

As I said healing is so important. I know how it feels to wake up in a cold sweat, anxiety, and feeling worthless, not able to trust people because the ones you trusted to protect you violated that trust and robbed you of your innocence. no, it wasn’t your fault as a child, but it is our responsibility to take care of our mental health as adults. This process of recovery is life long and it has lots of ups and downs and yes it is a painful process to go through but if you take one step at a time you might find that there is an elevation in your life and you can accomplish so much good in your life and for survivors everywhere. 

I’m not saying that you need to be the spokesperson for survivors but if you are going to put your truth out there do it with humility and integrity. You will find peace in that but hurting people in the process is not ok. I’m sure that your tough exterior is a part of you protecting yourself nobody is hard all day and I’m not judging it’s just that I can relate because mines was a defense mechanism to protect myself from being hurt even as an adult. I’m working on myself as I write you this letter. 

Our story is millions of other survivors’ story and it’s bad enough that society tells us to get over being assaulted as a kid and demonize us especially when it’s someone that they look up to. The Child Victims Act was put in place so that we can get some form of justice it is not a joke and we take it very seriously. 

You have a lot of people that are young supporters so please set a good example to the best of your abilities. We have all worked hard to get this law passed and although there is so much more work that needs to be done this is a step in the right direction and we don’t want to be looked at as a joke. 

I’m happy about your success but with it comes responsibility. We cannot be gangsters at our age because we are trying to make a difference and break the generational toxicity and that starts within ourselves. When we don’t seek the healing that we need we stay the same age we were when we were abused emotionally and that is a recipe for disaster. 

We want survivors and children to find the strength to come forward and speak their truth. Expose these sick predators and hold them accountable in the court of law however we can get justice. Money won’t heal you. I know I tried buying things taking trips, bucket lists, etc. instant gratification lasts just a moment and you still have to deal with yourself at the end of the day. You cannot hide from it because it catches up to you in all aspects of your life! I’m telling you this because I’ve experienced it and you lose a lot of people that you care about in the process and the loneliness kicks in. 

I challenge you to have an open mind and take some time to reflect on these issues. Survivors should never go against one another but support each other because we can change the world to make it better for future generations as some of our elders have paved the way for us so we must continue this journey with integrity. 

Respectfully,

Fallyn Black

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