bambaataa was a judge for the 6th annual independent music awards to support independent artists' careers. on september 27, 2007, it was announced that afrika bambaataa was one of the nine nominees for the 2008 rock and roll hall of fame inductions. on december 22, 2007, he made a surprise appearance performing at the "first annual tribute fit for the king of king records, mr. dynamite james brown" in covington, kentucky.