Fly Guys and Fly Girls Productions presents Great M.C. Showdown, Kool DJ AJ, Mr. Magic, Harlem World, New York, NY, September 3, 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.
Mr. Magic (John Rivas, 1956 –2009) was a prominent Hip Hop radio DJ from The Bronx, New York. Mr. Magic debuted in 1979 on WHBI in New York City with “Disco Showcase” where he started the very first Rap radio show. His most popular show--Rap Attack—featured Marley Marl as the DJ and Tyrone "Fly Ty" Williams as the show's co-producer.
Kool DJ AJ (Aaron Gerald O'Bryant, d. 2015), was a pioneering promoter and DJ for many Hip-Hop parties since the late 70’s and early 80’s. He was the the DJ for MCs Busy Bee and Kurtis Blow. One of Blow's hits, "The AJ Scratch," was written to pay respect and homage to DJ AJ's turntable skills.
