Why I Am Not Changing the Title: Zulu Nation: Hip Hop’s First Gay Family
Before I started filming in 2017, the working title was tRAPped in a CULTure. The documentary was to focus on the shocking allegations of child sexual abuse against Hip Hop Pioneer Afrika Bambaataa. During interviews, it became apparent that other members of his Zulu Nation had allegedly took part, encouraged, and aided in the alleged abuse of minors.
I was never planning to let these other Zulu Nation members off the hook by focusing on Bambaataa only.
The documentary was shopped, pitched, and mentioned to major media outlets, streaming services, executives, and agents. During this time, Hassan Campbell, one of the two alleged victims who showed their face, had received his comeuppance on YouTube. He received a groundswell of support from an outraged and sympathetic public which he segued into a new persona of trolling celebrities. He let it be known, “I never wanted Afrika Bambaataa to go to jail.” It was not long before he shed his image of a child advocate and someone seeking justice from his alleged abuser.
Ronald Savage, the other alleged victim, was pursuing a new career as a rapper and using videos of Tik Tok girls as the backdrop to his music. He also dropped his pursuit of justice from the courts.
After receiving initial interest, all media outlets passed on the project.
The clock was ticking and was about to run out. The statute of limitations for adult survivors of abuse ends in New York on August 14, 2021. After this date, Hassan, Ronald, and other alleged victims cannot sue Bambaataa or any other Zulu member.
For me personally, this story was dark and heavy and after the last pass, it was time to let it go. Also, the abusive nature of the people involved in this story spilled out onto me so it was dark, heavy, and confrontational at every turn. More on this later.
After the last pass, I called Troi “Star” Torain and said I was going to release all the footage for free on YouTube for everyone who was interested. We entered discussion, and he came up with the title, Zulu Nation: Hip Hop’s First Gay Family.
My immediate reaction to him was, “I love it.”
Here’s why I am not changing the title:
Hassan Campbell said that Bambaataa had sex with older Zulu members in front of him when he was a minor.
TC Izlam said he confiscated a list of Zulu members having homosexual relations with another Zulu member.
Ronald Savage said when he was 15 and Bambaataa finished teaching him how to masturbate, another Zulu member came into the bedroom. That person had his penis already out.
Ronald Savage said Bambaataa made him “go down” on his sister’s boyfriend. This boyfriend was also a member of the Zulu Nation.
Five alleged victims said that Bambaataa has books of Polaroid shots of naked male Zulu members in sexually explicit poses.
Lord Shariyf said he walked in on Bambaataa and another high-ranking male official engaging in self-pleasure while watching porn.
The argument is that it was not "all" Zulu members and I believe that is true. However, the nature and foundation of this organization seems to be built on homosexual activities and grooming young boys into these same activities. This is according to my interviews, research, audio and video footage.
The focus on black boys from the projects being allegedly abused is the same as it was when it was Trapped In A Culture. Very few supported the documentary when it was called Trapped In A Culture. Hassan Campbell and Ronald Savage didn’t even support it.
The title Star came up with woke everyone up. Before now, I did not hear from most of you at all. Now that it is called the First Gay Family, you want to show your heads and challenge me instead of being mad that you got duped, used, and abused by your own leadership.
I understand outer/peripheral Zulu Nation members being insulted by the title. However, they should consider themselves honorable when they left the organization after finding out what was going on. They should look into suing the Zulu Nation because they joined this organization in good faith and their reputations, work, and projects all suffered when the allegations came out.
Disagreement with the title does not change the reality of the organization and what they were allegedly involved in. The founding father and the founding chapter of the Universal Zulu Nation allegedly recruited young boys and others into an organization where child sexual abuse and statutory rape were allegedly running rampant.
You joined something you did not have full knowledge of.
It is your leadership's fault.
Not mine. Metropolis
