A Superstar Xmas Party featuring Coldcrush Brothers, The Lee Crew, Mix Master Mike at Knights of Columbus, Englewood, NJ, Saturday, December 25th

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.

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. Soon, the group brought in Grandmaster Caz (formerly DJ Casanova Fly) who 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. 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.

MC Debbie D (Debora Hooper) is a female Hip-Hop artist from Harlem but raised in the South Bronx. Debbie D started emceeing in 1977 at park jams in Webster Houses and was a part of the rap group DJ Patty Duke & Jazzy 5 as the only female Emcee, self-titled The Grand Mistress or Queen MC. She also was a member of the all-girl group US Girls with MC Sha-Rock and Lisa Lee. Debbie D also performed with DJ Wanda Dee.

Mix Master Mike (Michael Schwartz, b. 1970) is a turntablist known for his work with as the DJ for Beastie Boys. Mix Master Mike worked with the band on Hello Nasty (1998), To The 5 Boroughs (2004), and Hot Sauce Committee Part Two (2011). He also has collaborated with artists such as Ozzy Osbourne, Tommy Lee, Rob Zombie, Fela Kuti and Joss Stone. In 1995, he was honored with The Grand Wizzard Theodore lifetime achievement award from the International Turntablist Federation.

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.