The Crash Crew First Anniversary Thriller press party, at Harlem World, New York, NY, June 5, 1982

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.

Known as the Harlem World Cultural and Entertainment Complex everyone called it “The World.” Located at 116th and Malcolm X Boulevard (Lenox Avenue), from 1978 to 1985, it was the home of legendary Disco. Harlem World was a three-story club with a lighted dance floor, chandeliers, wall-to-wall gold shag carpeting, mirrored walls, and a one-of-a-kind, one-hundred-foot lightning bolt-shaped bar.  Chuck Foster was the co-owner of the Harlem World and was known as one of the men that were responsible for building Harlem World before becoming an owner. Harlem World hosted some of Rap music’s most historic M.C. battles and many of Rap’s earliest lyricists who birthed the idea to put Rap music on records were found at Harlem World. Anyone who was important came to perform at Harlem World such as Busy Bee, Love Bug Starski, Grand Master Flash & the Furious, Fantastic Romantic, Lady Smiley, Cold Crush, L. A. Sunshine, Treacherous Three, Doug E. Fresh, and Kool Moe Dee.

Crash Crew is an early 80s Hip-Hop group from Harlem, New York. The group consisted of members DJ Daryll C. (d. 1999), G. Man, La Shubee, Barry B-Stro, Michael EK Shahid (Ek Mike C), and Reggie Reg. The Hip-Hop group recorded for Mike and Dave Records in 1980 before they signed to Sugar Hill Records.

Treacherous Three is considered one of the pioneering old school Hip-Hop groups from Harlem, formed in 1978, consisting of Kool Moe Dee (Mohandas Dewese, b. 1963), LA Sunshine (Lamar Hill, b. unknown), Special K (Kevin Keaton, b. 1963), and DJ Easy Lee (Theodore Moy'e, b. unknown). One of the very first Rap acts put to wax, the Treacherous Three made their debut in 1978 on Enjoy Records and released several singles on the label, most notably "The Body Rock" (1980). The Treacherous Three became well known for their singles "Feel the Heartbeat" and "Whip It". They released their debut full-length album and were featured in the 1984 breakdance film cult movie Beat Street performing the song "Xmas Rap" with Doug E. Fresh. As one of the members of one of the first Rap groups on record, Treacherous Three were also signed to Sugar Hill Records. Their talent influenced the emergence of a fast style of rapping called Speed Rap, which influenced the later course of Hip-Hop.

Wanda Dee (Lawanda McFarland, b. 1963) is a Hip-Hop artist and DJ from the Bronx, New York. While still a teenager, she became the first female Hip-Hop DJ and protégée of Hip-Hop DJ Kool Herc, who gave her the stage name "Wanda Dee". She was also introduced to Afrika Bambaataa, who inducted her into his Universal Zulu Nation. She learned deejaying through Hip-Hop's top DJs, performed shows with MC Debbie D, and became a solo artist, releasing scandalous singles like "Blue Eyes" and "I Wanna See You Sweat" in the late 80s and 90s.