Ecstasy Productions Presents, The Cold Crush Brothers, The Zulu Nation, Afrika Bambaataa, Jazzy Jay, Cosmic Force, Yerwood Center, Stanford, CT, August 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 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. 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.

Leader of the Zulu Nation and known as one of the “Godfathers 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 1970s, playing Funk and Disco records. He stood out as a unique and eclectic DJ because he would play records across different genres like Rock, Pop, Salsa, African, and Latin. Afrika Bambaataa also established two Rap crews: the Jazzy 5 and the Soul Sonic Force. Afrika Bambaataa has crafted the foundation of Hip-Hop by establishing the five elements or five pillars: 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.

The Soul Sonic Force an electro-funk and Hip-Hop group led by Afrika Bambaataa included Mr. Biggs (Ellis Williams, b.1960), Pow Wow (Robert Darrell Allen, b. unknown), The G.L.O.B.E (John Miller, b. unknown) and DJ Jazzy Jay (John Byas, b. 1961). The Soul Sonic Force began as a nine-piece affair with MC’s gradually dropping out, including Lisa Lee who would remain with Bambaataa as part of Cosmic Force who would appear on four hugely influential singles, “Zulu Nation Throwdown Part 2”, “Planet Rock”, “Looking For The Perfect Beat” and “Renegades Of Funk”. Pow Wow, in turn, had a hand in producing ‘Planet Rock’, while G.L.O.B.E. was responsible for patenting the ‘MC popping’ technique, a description he preferred compared to rapping, he would drop in and out of rhymes at short notice producing a unique sound effect that resembled ad-libs. He was also responsible for many of the group’s lyrics. The Soul Sonic Force adapted musical and fashion styles that resembled the fashion of Sly and the Family Stone and Parliament-Funkadelic. Many members of the Zulu Nation dressed in African style clothing, pan-African colors, and many other cultural garbs from other countries around the world.

Emerging in the early 1970s, the Zulu Nation was a community conscious Hip-Hop organization composed of DJs, MCs, graffiti artists, and break-dancers who pushed and established the early culture of Hip-Hop. Composed of local Bronx gang members from the Black Spades, the Zulu Nation used the elements of Hip-Hop to advocate for education, Black unity, peace, love, and upward mobility. Inspired by the movie Zulu (1964), the teachings of Malcolm X, and the Nation of Islam, Afrika Bambaataa created the Zulu Nation to fight against gun violence, drug abuse and gang rivalry in the Bronx community to transform New York’s gang culture to a higher level of self-consciousness, creativity, and freedom. Growing into an international organization, the Universal Zulu Nation celebrated and believed in Black solidarity, accepting people for who they area and that reflected in their clothing, message, and style.

Jazzy Jay (John Bayas, b. 1961) is known as The Original Jazzy Jay or DJ Jazzy Jay and was a protégé of Afrika Bambaataa as well as his older cousin, Kool DJ Red Alert. Jazzy Jay is a DJ and producer and one of the original members of the Soul Sonic Force, The Bronx River, and the Universal Zulu Nation. Jazzy Jay also assisted Rick Rubin with the founding of Def Jam Recordings and introducing Rick Rubin to Russell Simmons. Jazzy Jay is a legend of Hip-Hop and DJs alongside many iconic Hip-Hop artists during the early period.