Formal Complaint Filed with New York Attorney General Against Universal Hip Hop Museum
Executive Director Rocky Bucano Refuses to Resign, Chuck Schumer, Museum Board, and NY Legislators Unresponsive
Sign at the Universal Hip Hop Museum autographed by Afrika Bambaataa while Rocky Bucano claims the museum cut ties
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.
Bambaataa and Cutman LG - Bambaataa referring the museum's Director of Music Programming Shawn Thomas aka Cutman LG as "Minister." Leaders in the Zulu Nation became ministers when the organization became a religious group
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