Grandmaster Flash and the Furious 5, the Brothers Disco/Funky 4 + 1, Spoonin Gee [Spoonie Gee], Mr. Woody Wood and His Woody Wood Crew, Grand Wizard Theodore and the Fantastic 5, Mercedes Ladies, and the Disco Twins, at the Jamaica Armory, Bronx, NY, Febr

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.

Many of the original Hip-Hop parties took place at local roller rinks, community centers, parks, and clubs. Roller rinks were an important cultural site for fun in the late 70s and 80s where adults and teens would attend roller discos and Hip-Hop parties.  The space would be used as a place for DJs to spin, rappers to show their talents, and for breakers to showcase their dancing skills on the large skate floor. Community centers were another important space in the early years of Hip-Hop for youth to gather and escape their everyday life. Additionally, community centers and recreation centers were the original spaces where DJ Kool Herc would spin in his early era of DJing. The community centers such as the Bronx River Center and the PAL were usually located in the middle of the projects. But local promoters would give parties and give money back to the center for books and trips for the local kids in the community.

Often referred to as the Fantastic Freaks or Fantastic Romantic 5. The Fantastic Five consisted of Grand Wizard Theodore (Theodore Livingston), Dot-A-Rock (Darryl Mason), Ruby Dee (Rubin Garcia), Master Rob (Robin Strong) and the Original Kevie Kev (Kevin Strong). Known for their single, "Can I Get A Soul Clap" (1980) The group also appeared in the film Wild Style (1982) and recorded a song in 1994 with the Cold Crush Brothers and Terminator X which appeared on Terminator X's album, Super Bad.

Spoonie Gee (Gabriel Jackson, b. 1963), is one of the earliest Rap artists, and one of the few to have released rap records in the 1970s. some of the themes in his music were precursors of Gangsta Rap. Spoonie Gee received his 'Spoonie' nickname as a child because the spoon was the only utensil that he used to eat with. Spoonie's name was suggested, and he recorded "Spoonin' Rap", which was released on Brown's Sound of New York, USA imprint, featuring a lyric that included jailhouse references that would later become common in Gangsta Rap, and with echo applied to his vocals. Spoonie G was a founding member of the Treacherous Three, along with L.A. Sunshine and Kool Moe Dee. Spoonie Gee has been described as "the original gangsta rapper”. His career took off once again in 1987 with his debut album The Godfather of Rap, produced by Marley Marl and Teddy Riley, and issued on the Tuff City label.

Funky 4+1 More included K.K. Rockwell (Kevin Smith, b. unknown), Sha-Rock (Sharon Green, b. 1962), Keith Keith (Keith Caesar, b. unknown), Rahiem (Guy Todd Wiliams, b. unknown) until 1979 to join 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 More 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 More was one of 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 More 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. In 1979 Rahiem left the group to join Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five, then in 1981 Lil Rodney C and KK Rockwell left to form a duo called Double Trouble. In 1983, Sha-Rock formed US Girls with Debbie D and Lisa Lee.

Grandmaster Flash and The Furious 5 expanded the culture of Hip-Hop across the globe with their rapping and DJing skills. Making their debut as a group that performed for local parties in the Bronx and then the world, the Furious 5 included Grandmaster Flash (Joseph Saddler, b. 1958), Melle Mel (Melvin Commented [AJ4]: START HERE 154/302 Glover, b.1961), his brother The Kidd Creole (Nathaniel Glover, b.1960), Keef Cowboy (Robert Keith Wiggins, b. 1960-1989), Mr. Ness a.k.a. Scorpio (Eddie Morris, b. 1960), and Rahiem (Guy Williams, b.1963) from the Funky 4+1 more. The group is widely regarded as one of the greatest Hip-Hop groups of all time and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2007 as the first Hip-Hop group to be inducted. With hits like, “Freedom”, “Birthday Party” and “The Message”, Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five stood out as a unique group due to their ability to finish each other’s rhymes, mixing melodies and harmonies while also being able to keep the crowd hyped and engaged.