The Funky 4 Plus 1, The Kool DJ AJ Show, Chief Rocker Starsky, The Grand Wizard Theodore, The Fantastic 5 M.C.s, DJ Afrika Bambaataa, Soulsonic Force M.C.s, Cold Crush Brothers at the Ecstasy Garage Disco, New York, New York, April 1, 1980

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.

The Ecstasy Garage had been originally used as an after-hour club founded and owned by Arthur Armstrong (Army, Art Armstrong). Mean Gene was the house DJ and eventually became the manager of the club. The first Ecstasy was on Jerome Ave, but the second Ecstasy Garage was located on Macomb’s Road. Arthur was the house DJ and at one point and time the Grand Wizzard Theodore. Ecstasy Garage Disco was open every Friday and Saturday and occasionally on Sundays.

Buddy Esquire (Lemoin Thompson, b.1958 – 2014) is a graphic designer from the Bronx. Producing 300 graphic materials in the form of flyers, Buddy Esquire was the most well-known show flyer artist in the Bronx in the early days of Hip-Hop, from 1978 to 1982. Grandmaster Flash, Afrika Bambaataa, Kool Herc, the Funky 4 Plus 1, and the Cold Crush Brothers were among the Hip-Hop legends whose early performances were advertised on his flyers. He was self-taught and learned drawing and typography principles from books at his local library. Graffiti, Japanese anime, superhero comics, and Art Deco architecture were among his influences. Buddy Esquire's visual styles helped to set the tone for Hip-Hop, where his work used jukeboxes and historic theater marquees as inspiration.

Cold Crush Brother’s original lineup consisted of DJ Tony Tone (Angelo King, b. unknown), Easy AD (Adrian Harris, b. unknown), DJ Charlie Chase (Carlos Mandes, b. 1959), Grandmaster Caz (Curtis Brown, b. 1960), Almighty KG (Kenneth Pounder, b. unknown), JDL (Jerry Dee Lewis, b. unknown) and Money Ray (Eric Hoskins, b. unknown). Whipper Whip (James Whipper, b. unknown) and Dot-A-Rock (Darryl Mason, b. unknown) were original members. 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 group’s name, saying that “Cold Crush” meant anybody could get crushed, cold crushed, with 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 a 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.