PROOF: Chuck Schumer, NY Legislators Funding Universal Hip Hop Museum Asleep at the Wheel
Rocky Bucano Gives False Assurances to Mayor Eric Adams
Rocky Bucano and Red Alert at the Universal Hip Hop Museum with Zulu Nation Poster in DJ Booth.
New York Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer
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