Origin New York Labels Tommy Boy Record label Tommy Boy Entertainment | Years active 1980-present Active from 1980 | |
![]() | ||
Similar Arthur Baker, Grandmaster Flash and the Furio, Planet Patrol, Universal Zulu Nation, Grandmaster Flash |
Soulsonic Force (also referred to as Afrika Bambaataa & Soulsonic Force) was an American electro-funk and hip hop ensemble led by Afrika Bambaataa who helped establish hip-hop in the early 1980s with songs such as "Planet Rock". They were also influential in the birth of the electro movement in America and helped pave the way for modern dance music styles such as electro-funk as well as the entire Miami bass scene.
Contents

In 1982, Soulsonic Force and Afrika Bambaataa released a single called "Planet Rock". The song borrowed musical motifs from German electro-pop, British rock and African-American disco rap. All the different elements and musical styles were blended together; and in doing so, offered hip hop as a new vision for global harmony. The song became an immediate hit and stormed the music charts worldwide.

Their most well-known songs are "Planet Rock", "Looking for the Perfect Beat" and "Renegades of Funk" (which is one of the earliest political-conscious rap songs, alongside Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five's "The Message").

Soulsonic Force features on the title track of the freestylers' debut album, We Rock Hard.
Lineup

Discography


Songs
Looking For The Perfect BeatPlanet Rock: The Album · 1986
Planet RockPlanet Rock: The Album · 1986
Renegades of FunkPlanet Rock: The Album · 1986