Treacherous 3, The Kool DJ A.J. Starsky Show, Cold Crush Brothers, Cold Crush 4, T-Ski Valley, at Morris High School, New York, NY, June 21, 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 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.

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.

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.

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 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 rapping which influenced the later course of Hip-Hop.

T-Ski (Tyrone Cox, b. unknown) was a Hip-Hop artist from The Bronx, New York. T-Ski had many connections to music in his early years. T-Ski began his musical career at the age of fourteen when he and his friend Disco Prince formed a group called the Erotic Disco Brothers. In 1978, T-Ski joined Kool Herc as an M.C. (Fly Force) and later that year T-Ski joined up with A.J. & Busy Bee as a D.J. He also worked with reggae producers Brad Osborne of Clocktower Records and Clement "Coxsone" Dodd (Studio One Records) at Grand Groove Records. His first release was “Catch The Beat,” and was released in the fall of 1981. T-Ski performed with many artists such as Kool Moe Dee, Run DMC, Kurtis Blow, Spoonie Gee, Cold Crush Brothers, Grandwizzard Theodore, and Grand Master Flash & The Furious Five.