Afrika Bambaataa and the Soulsonic Force, Funky 4 + 1 More, at the Ecstasy Garage, Bronx, NY, March 21, 1980

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 around 1,000 party flyers. The parks’ open public spaces have provided the perfect venues for park jams, impromptu dance-offs, 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.

The Soul Sonic Force an electro-funk and Hip-Hop group led by Afrika Bambaataa included Mr. Biggs (Ellis Williams, b.1960), Pow Wow (Robert Darrell Allen, b. unknown), The G.L.O.B.E (John Miller, b. unknown) and DJ Jazzy Jay (John Byas, b. 1961). The Soul Sonic Force began as a nine-piece affair with MC’s gradually dropping out, including Lisa Lee who would remain with Bambaataa as part of Cosmic Force who would appear on four hugely influential singles, “Zulu Nation Throwdown Part 2”, “Planet Rock”, “Looking For The Perfect Beat” and “Renegades Of Funk”. Pow Wow, in turn, had a hand in producing ‘Planet Rock’, while G.L.O.B.E. was responsible for patenting the ‘MC popping’ technique, a description he preferred compared to rapping, he would drop in and out of rhymes at short notice producing a unique sound effect that resembled ad-libs. He was also responsible for many of the group’s lyrics. The Soul Sonic Force adapted musical and fashion styles that resembled the fashion of Sly and the Family Stone and Parliament-Funkadelic. Many members of the Zulu Nation dressed in African style clothing, pan-African colors, and many other cultural garbs from other countries around the world.

Funky 4 + 1 included K.K. Rockwell (Kevin Smith, b. unknown), Sha-Rock (Sharon Green, b. 1962), Keith Keith (Keith Caesar, b. unknown), and Rahiem (Guy Todd Wiliams, b. unknown) until 1979 when they joined Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, Lil’ Rodney C (Rodney Stone, b. unknown), MC Jazzy Jeff (Jeff Miree, b. 1962) D.J. Baron (Baron Chappell, b. unknown) and D.J. Breakout (Keith Williams, b. unknown). The Funky 4 + 1 is considered a legendary Hip-Hop group emerging out of the South Bronx, forming at the end of the Disco era in 1978. Funky 4 + 1 was one of the first battle groups, the first Rap group to have a female MC, the first Rap group to be signed by a major record label, and the first Rap group to perform live on national television (Funky 4 + 1 performed “That’s the Joint” on Saturday Night Live, February 1981). Their debut single was the 15-min track ‘Rappin and Rocking the House’ released in 1979, which was the same year they signed with Enjoy Records for three months then signed with Sugar Hill Records where they released “That’s the Joint” in 1980.