Webster P.A.L. presents DJ Casanova Fly, DJ Disco Wiz and The Mighty DJ Crew featuring DJ Afrika Bambaataa, at Webster P.A.L., Bronx, New York, February 25, 1978

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.

Leader of the Zulu Nation and the “Godfather 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 70s 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. He established two rap crews: the Jazzy 5 including MCs Master Ice, Mr. Freeze, Master Bee, Master D.E.E, and AJ Les, and the second Crew referred to as Soul Sonic Force including Mr. Biggs, Pow Wow and Emcee G.L.O.B.E Afrika Bambaataa has also 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. 

DJ Disco Wiz (Luis Cedeño, b, 1961) is a DJ from the Bronx, NY. Disco Wiz is noted as being the first Latino DJ in Hip-Hop music and is known as DJ Louie Lou. Disco Wiz also worked with Grandmaster Caz throughout the mid to late 70s where he was credited for being the first DJ to create a "mixed plate" in 1977 when he and Grandmaster Caz, combined sound bites, special effects, and paused beats. Grandmaster Caz (formerly DJ Casanova Fly, Curtis Brown, b. 1961) is known to be one of the top 50 MCs of all Time and an inductee into the Technics DJ Hall of Fame and the Bronx Walk of Fame.