Ronald Savage

Growing up in the Castle Hill Houses in The Bronx, Savage became a member of the Universal Zulu Nation at the age of 14. Savage used to spend time with D.J Jazzy Jay while he recorded records in the early 1980s.[2] Savage states, "The best time I had in hip hop, when I was a kid was being paid after the parties, we were being paid (by Bambaataa) in White Castles Hamburgers".[3]

Savage got his start in the music industry in 1986 when Jazzy Jay built his recording studio in the Bronx on Blondell Ave.[4] He paid his dues by running errands for Jazzy.[4][5] In 1986, Jazzy Jay teamed up with Rocky Bucano to start Strong City Records. Soon, Jazzy moved the label to Allerton Ave in the Bronx, where Savage convinced the DJ's to play records of Strong City artists on rap radio and in rap clubs. Soon after in 1988 Strong City Records[6] was acquired by MCA Records to become Strong City / MCA / Uni Records. There, Savage worked on Strong City Record acts such as Busy Bee Starski, Def Duo, Ultimate Force, Ice Cream Tee, Nu Sounds, BZ2 M.C.'s, and other groups like Brand Nubian, Showbiz & A.G, Fat Joe, which all worked out of Jazzy Jay Studios.

A few years later, he left Strong City Records and began working for Dick Scott Entertainment, the management company for the New Kids on The Block, Marky Mark, Boys to Men. At Dick Scott Entertainment, Savage worked as an artist liaison for the rap group Snap!,[2] whose single "I Got The Power" went #1 on the weekly charts in Spain, UK, Netherlands, Switzerland, as well as the Eurochart Hot 100. In 1990 the song hit #2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.[7] Savage also handled for Dick Scott Entertainment other groups as Doug E Fresh, Ikey Cee, and Show Biz & A.G.[2] In 1990, while working with the rap pop group Snap!, Ronald "Bee-Stinger" Savage carved the term six elements of the hip hop movement. These six elements are: consciousness awareness, civil rights awareness, activism awareness, justice, political awareness, community awareness.[8][9][10][11][12][13] While working as an artist liaison at Dick Scott Entertainment, he suffered a mild stroke from the constant stress at his job which ended his career in the music industry.[14] Ronald Savage states about his released single in 2018 "Hip Hop Movement Anthem": "I'm not rapping on the single, this is an arrangement of classic hip hop beats for the clubs and DJ’s to bring fun and peace back to the forefront of hip-hop."[15]

Music release date: September 20, 2018 (Single) - Hip Hop Movement Anthem - Ron "Bee-Stinger" Savage[16][17]

Music release date: January 11, 2019 (Single) - Keep Goin - Ron "Bee-Stinger" Savage[18]

In 2005, Savage started a non-profit organization called United Coalition Association. Its mission is to fight juvenile delinquency and counteract negative behavior in youth. It also organizes college fairs to prepare students the entrance to college.[2]

Savage also appeared in PSAs encouraging youth to stay away from gang activity, which aired on TV stations such as MTV and VH1. In 2008, Savage was elected to the New York State Democratic Committee with the help of former NYS Assemblyman Peter M Rivera. Savage was honored by the NAACP with an award in recognition of his devotion and commitment and uplifting youth in the community. Ronald Savage is also the founder of the New York State College Fair Day. He also created a DVD called The Plan which provides information about entrance to college.[19]

In 2011 Savage marched with Occupy Wall Street protesters in New York. "We just drew up a resolution to raise taxes on the rich," he said. "I hope it makes it to the floor. The mayor and the governor need to be more egalitarian toward the poor and the working class. This protest and protests from around the world show strength in numbers. It's global. The people are tired," he said.[20]

In 2011, Bronx Borough President Rubén Díaz Jr. did not reappoint Savage, then a New York State Democratic Committeeman for the 76th Assembly District, to local Bronx Community Board 9 in the Soundview area of the Bronx, due to the fact that Savage helped Charlie Ramos (a candidate for senate) in the 2011 September primary elections against Ruben Diaz Jr's father, New York state Sen. Rubén Díaz Sr.[21]

In 2016, Savage reported that Afrika Bambaataa molested him at the age of 15 in 1980.[22] Former Hot 97 host Troi Torain aka STAR of the Star & Buc Wild Show in New York City broke the story on the Shot 97 internet radio show. On April 9, the exclusive story appeared in the New York Daily News.[1] The Universal Zulu Nation apologized to Savage, after three more men came forth with accounts of being abused by Bambaataa after the story was published. Savage has also fought to help change the statute of limitations laws in New York State against child molesters.[23][24]

Savage was featured on the 2016 single "Don't Close Your Eyes" produced by Jonathan Hay, where he spoke over Bambaataa's song "Planet Rock" which was replayed in the track. Savage speaks out about child molestation and issues a very bold challenge to the President of the United States, stating, “Children are being molested every day. I was molested by a world Hip-Hop icon,” states Savage. “My question is to the President of the United States of America: what are you going to do about the child molestation crisis of America?”.[25] Savage also stated in an interview in London, "I don’t recognize the term hip hop culture because that is a term Bambaataa coined and I don’t know what his intention was when he coined the term, but what I do recognize is hip hop and I salute the rebirth of the hip hop movement".[26]