Ecstasy Garage Disco Presents A Super Anniversary Show Disco for Grandmaster Caz, Ecstasy Garage Disco, New York City, January 24, 1981

Party flyers were a staple in the early years of Hip-Hop and hard-copy invitations were the main medium for communicating information and promoting an event. The flyers symbolized many key appearances, acts, conventions, DJ performances, and contests in the Hip-Hop scene. Many flyers were created by local graffiti artists such as Buddy Esquire and Phase 2. The flyers were often presented by Hip-Hop promoters, DJs, and MCs who hosted the parties. Money was given to the artist to draw creative art and graphics for about $40-$60 for approximately 1,000 party flyers. The parks’ open public spaces have provided the perfect venues for park jams, impromptu dance-offs, DJ battles, and rap battles that established the sound, fashion, art, and message of Hip-Hop. Most of the Hip-Hop parties were a space for positivity where many of the Hip-Hop community could escape the realities of racism that included police brutality, drug abuse, and gang violence in their surrounding communities.

The Ecstasy Garage had been originally used as an after-hour club founded and owned by Arthur Armstrong (Army, Art Armstrong). Mean Gene was the house DJ and eventually became the manager of the club. The first Ecstasy was on Jerome Ave, but the second Ecstasy Garage was located on Macomb’s Road. Arthur was the house DJ and at one point and time the Grand Wizzard Theodore. Ecstasy Garage Disco was open every Friday and Saturday and occasionally on Sundays.

Cold Crush Brother’s original lineup consisted of DJ Tony Tone (Angelo King), Easy AD (Adrian Harris), DJ Charlie Chase (Carlos Mandes, b. 1959), Grandmaster Caz (Curtis Brown, b. 1960), Almighty KG (Kenneth Pounder), JDL (Jerry Dee Lewis), and Money Ray (Eric Hoskins). Whipper Whip (James Whipper) and DotA-Rock (Darryl Mason) were original members, but eventually, Whipper Whip and Dot-A-Rock left and joined the Fantastic Five, which they considered to be a more established group at the time. Cold Crush Brother member, DJ Tony Tone came up with the name, saying the name Cold Crush meant anybody could get crushed, cold crushed, no remorse. The Cold Crush Brothers were known for their remarkable routines which included harmonies, melodies, and stage-stomping performances. The Cold Crush Brothers set the standard for emceeing. They built the reputation as the Rolling Stones of Hip Hop. Because of the attention they began to attract, many groups would try to battle them to gain Rap credibility and Hip-Hop superiority.

DJ Kool Herc is known as the founding father of Hip-Hop . Having Caribbean roots and growing up in the Bronx, Kool Herc (Clive Campbell, b. 1955) is known for cultivating the Hip-Hop genre with his DJing skills and parties that opened the space for youth parties starting in the late 1970s at 1520 Sedgwick Ave. Before becoming a DJ, he was a graffiti writer who wrote "Kool Herc."  He became popular as a DJ in the Bronx with his massive sound system that was affectionately dubbed "The Herculords." The birth of Hip-Hop ’s unique sound was Herc’s ability to enhance the sound of the speaker, connect two turn tables and used channel knobs as his mixer, an echo chamber and eight microphones so he can play music and talk to the crowd which was something people never experienced musically before. The new sonic skill that Herc emphasized during his DJ sets was the extension of the breakdown also known as the break. He began searching for disco, funk, rock, soul and Caribbean records because of the sound of their break which he then played two of the same records on the turn tables back-cueing a record at the beginning of the break that normally lasted five seconds where he began to extend them together. Kool Herc’s unique DJ style and ability to amplify speakers and having MCs on the mic revolutionized the way urban youth in the Bronx danced and listened to disco and funk music.

Leader of the Zulu Nation and known as one of the “Godfathers of Hip-Hop " Afrika Bambaataa (Lance Taylor, b. 1957) is a DJ, producer, rapper and songwriter from the Southeast Bronx. As a former gang member, Afrika Bambaataa began DJing at local parties in the early 1970s playing, funk and disco records but stood out as a unique and eclectic DJ because he would play records across different genres like Rock, Pop, Salsa, African and Latin. Afrika Bambaataa also established two rap crews: the Jazzy 5 and the Soul Sonic Force. Afrika Bambaataa has crafted the foundation of Hip-Hop by establishing the five elements or five pillars of Hip-Hop : DJing, MCing, b-boying, graffiti and knowledge. Afrika Bambaataa’s impact on Hip-Hop culture has defined the genre as a staple of creativity and expression emerging out of the Bronx.