Afrika Bambaataa and the Soulsonic Force introduced electro hip hop to a broad audience with the 1982 single “Planet Rock.”
Released by Tommy Boy Records in 1982, the track was produced by Arthur Baker and featured prominent electronic textures associated with the emerging electro sound. Its melody and rhythmic ideas drew on Kraftwerk’s electronic music, particularly “Trans-Europe Express” and “Numbers,” while the performance remained rooted in hip hop’s DJ, MC, and dance culture.
“Planet Rock” helped connect New York hip hop with electronic music, breakdancing, and later developments in electro, techno, and bass music. Its futuristic sound was notably different from the funk-based party rap that dominated many earlier records.
The song is sometimes confused with “Looking for the Perfect Beat,” another important Afrika Bambaataa and Soulsonic Force release from 1983. “Planet Rock” is the 1982 single associated with the breakthrough electro landmark.