New Delhi, April 10 -- Hip-hop pioneer Afrika Bambaataa has died at the age of 67, TMZ  reported. The influential DJ and producer passed away early Thursday in Pennsylvania, with the cause of death linked to complications from cancer.

Born Lance Taylor in the Bronx, New York, Bambaataa is widely regarded as one of the architects of hip-hop culture, alongside DJ Kool Herc and Grandmaster Flash.

Raised in the Bronx during a time of economic hardship and gang activity, Bambaataa's early life reflected the realities of 1970s New York. As a teenager, he was associated with the Black Spades gang before pivoting towards music and social change.

He later founded the Universal Zulu Nation, a collective that aimed to channel youth energy in...