Shango emerged in 1983 as a collaborative project between Afrika Bambaataa and producer Bill Laswell on Celluloid Records. The group bridged funk traditions with electronic innovation, creating a distinctive sound that blended live instrumentation—particularly prominent horn arrangements—with dance-oriented production. Featuring vocalist Bernard Fowler, Shango delivered several dance-floor hits that showcased Bambaataa's visionary approach to genre fusion.
The project represented a key moment in early '80s electronic funk, demonstrating how hip-hop pioneers were expanding beyond rap into broader dance music territories. Shango's work exemplified the experimental spirit of Laswell's production work and the Material collective's boundary-pushing aesthetic, cementing the group's influence on the intersection of funk, electronic music, and world music influences that defined the era.
