Searching for the perfect beat the story of tommy boy

25 years ago, one 12” changed the face of popular music, bridging the gaps between hip-hop, dance, pop and new wave. The label behind it, Tommy Boy, revitalised a dying hip-hop culture. Jason Draper marks the cultural milestones.

New York, 1982. All the car stereos, boom boxes and club DJs are playing the same thing – a new sound known as ‘electro-funk’. Most simply described as a mix of Kraftwerk and 70s funk, this new breed of dance/hip-hop was the direct ancestor of Miami bass, UK house and techno, and the saviour of a dying Bronx hip-hop scene. It ushered in years of creativity and autonomy for artists and producers alike, and was invented in one fell swoop by a record that, this month, celebrates its 25th anniversary: Afrika Bambaataa & The Soul Sonic Force’s Planet Rock.

The third single to come out of New York’s independent label Tommy Boy (which celebrated it’s own 25th anniversary last year), Planet Rock’s success was largely down to an all-encompassing appeal and the fact that, at a time when most urban music was smooth and soulful, Planet Rock had an edge that could appeal to dance, urban and new wave crowds. Building itself around samples from Captain Sky’s Super Sperm; two Kraftwerk recordings, Trans- Europe Express and Numbers (Kraftwerk themselves loved the track); and taking in new wave influences and elements of a burgeoning electro-pop scene, Planet Rock had everything, including rapped vocals courtesy of The Soul Sonic Force. “This was the era when new wave was just beginning,” says Tommy Boy …

by Jason Draper
<< Back to Issue 337

You must be a subscriber to view the full article, subscribe now for full access to all online content.

Already a Magazine Subscriber? Register now for online access.