Citywide "Boro Boogithon" with The Treacherous 3, The Boogie Boys, Caz, J.D. El, Sweety Gee, Disco Twins, Mr. Magic, Dr. Rock, Force M.C.s, at the Audobon Ballroom, New York, NY, December 31, 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.

The historic Audubon Theater and Ballroom was located at 3940 Broadway and West 165th Street. Constructed in 1912 by Fox Film Corporation founder William Fox, the Audubon Theater and Ballroom was one of the first theaters in the Fox theater group for vaudeville and movies to open in Washington Heights. The Audubon was one of the main places where promoters use to host Hip-Hop conventions and parties. Many of the early Hip-Hop conventions were hosted at the Sparkle, but were moved to the Audubon. At many of the D.J. conventions, every D.J. brought his own system and as many as 5 to 6 groups perform one after another.

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.

The Force M.D.'s/Force MC's/Might Force Four (MD stands for Musical Diversity) was a hip-hop/R&B group that was formed in 1981 in Staten Island, New York. The hip-hop/R&B hybrid group — which was foundational to the new jack swing movement of the 1980s — signed to Tommy Boy Records in 1984. They are best known for two classics, "Tender Love" and "Love is a House". They are considered major leaders of the new jack swing movement. The group was composed of brothers Stevie D. (Stevie D. Lundy), T.C.D (Antoine Lundy, d. 1998), and Khalil (Rodney Lundy), DJ Dr. Rock (d. 1996), along with their uncle Jessie Lee Daniels (1962-2022). Later, friends Trisco (Trisco Pearson, d. 2016) and Mercury (Charles Nelson, d. 1995) from the Mariners Harbor housing projects joined the group.