Malcolm McLaren was a trendsetter, music futurist, tastemaker, a forefather of modern Punk, and a Hip Hop innovator. During the ‘70s McLaren introduced the world to one of the most abrasive bands ever to step on a stage- The Sex Pistols. As the band’s manager he helped bring them to global prominence with publicity stunts and recorded rants attacking British royalty delivered in the form of their classic single “God Save the Queen.”
McLaren was introduced to Hip Hop by Bronx River resident, Zulu Nation founder, and Hip Hop pioneer Afrika Bambaataa in the New York City club scene. In the early ‘80s, McLaren released the single “Buffalo Gals” with the Hip Hop group World Famous Supreme Team. The record was a club and urban radio smash that broke genre boundaries. He later released the album “Duck Rock,” an eclectic full-length that defied boundaries by mixing Hip Hop, world music, and electro dance. McLaren proved that he could remix cultures and art and come up with something new. Not unlike most original Hip Hop, this album can be considered a predecessor today’s favorite music buzzword “mash-up.” This innovative release helped deliver Hip Hop music to a broader audience. Even the album’s artwork was a reflection of New York City street culture and Hip Hop, featuring the art of graffiti legends Dondi White and Keith Haring.
Malcolm went on to manage other artists including Adam and the Ants and Bow Wow Wow. He also released several other albums including “Buffalo Gals Back 2 Skool” featuring prominent Hip Hop icons such as KRS and Rakim.
Although Malcolm McLaren passed away on April 8th, 2010, his legacy as a pioneer will remain for those that have been touched by his music and those that will discover his art in the future.
Here’s the original of Buffalo Gals as found on Youtube:
Here’s Rakim’s remake of Buffalo Gals on Youtube:
