Explore Black History

March 30, 1984

A flier for “The International Heavyweight Rappers Showdown Part 1.” The flier is in portrait orientation and printed on white paper. It is covered top to bottom in black text in varying fonts and sizes and a black-and-white graphic. The small graphic is at the center of the flier: a bust pose image of Grandmaster Flash. Flash is depicted from the mid-chest up. He is facing the viewer and wearing a service-style cap and a patterned shirt. At the top of the flier is a reproduced masthead for the New York Daily News that reads [DAILY [graphic of a camera] NEWS / NEW YORK’S PICTURE NEWSPAPER]. Below is large, featured text that reads [THE INTERNATIONAL / HEAVYWEIGHT RAPPERS / SHOWDOWN COMES TO / NYC FEATURING $1000 / GRAND / PRIZE.]. Immediately to the left of the featured text is additional, diagonally oriented text that reads [PART / 1], and in the top left corner of the flier is a graphic of a diagonal black arrow with white, centered, block text inside that reads [SPORTS / FINAL]. Below the featured text is the centered graphic of Grandmaster Flash with text on either side of the graphic. The large and medium sized text on the left reads [DISCO MUSIC BY / GRANDMASTER / FLASH / AND / KURTIS BLOWS[sic] DJ / AJ]. The large and medium sized text on the right reads [CADET / HEADQUARTERS / 170 JEROME AVE BX / NO4TRAIN / $8 / LADIES HALF / PRICE TIL 11 / FRI / MARCH / 30TH / 8UNTIL[sic]].
Below the text and graphic are three lists of performers. The list on the far left is titled [GROUPS] and below are the following acts: [FURIOUS 5 / COLDCRUSH 4 /FEARLESS 4 /SOULSONIC FORCE / RUN DMC / CRASH CREW / C-D-3 / TREACHEROUS 3 / FRESH 3MCS / DEATH COMMITTE[sic] / DISCO 3 / KID NICE MCS]. The list at the center is titled [GROUPS] and below are the following acts: [SUPREME TEAM / THE FORCE MDS / FUNKY 4 / DISCO 4 / WHODNI[sic] / DYNMATIC[sic] 3 / B-BOYS / AWESOME 4 / JECKYL[sic]+HYDE / FANTASY 3 / DOUBLE TROUBLE / FINASSE[sic?] 4]. The list on the right is titled [SOLOS] and below are the following acts: [WATERBED KEV / BUSYBEE / SWEET GEE / STARSKI / KOOL KYLE / DOUGIE FRESH / STARCHILD / JIMMY SPICER / D”BURA[sic] / SYPDER[sic] D / THE RAKE / LES LOVE]. Printed below are competitor rules: [P.S. ALL MCS LISTED ARE INVITED TO COMPETE IN THE SHOWDOWN / MCS NOT LISTED CAN SIGN UP AT THE CADET HEADQUARTERS NOW / ALL GROUPS AND SOLOS MUST PAY $5 PER MAN ENTRY FEE / THIS SHOWDOWN IS A BENIFIT[sic] DANCE FOR THE CMCC WARIORRS[sic] / THE ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS CASH PRIZE IS GAURANTTED[sic] / 2ND AND THIRD PLACE WINNERS WILL RECEIVE 200.00 PLUS TROPHYS / THE PEOPLE AT THE CONTEST WILL PICK THE WINNER…………..].
At the bottom of the flier is information about The International Heavyweight Rappers Showdown Part 2 that reads [PART 2-ROXYS[sic] / PART TWO OF THE INTERNATIONAL SHOWDOWN / WILL BE HELD AT THE ROXYS[sic] ON APRIL 22 / EASTER SUNDAY AND THE GRAND PRIZE IS / 1,500 DOLLARS TO THE BEST GROUP OR SOLO MC]. The back of the flier has no text or inscriptions.

Transcribed by digital volunteers

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Memorabilia and Ephemera - Advertisements

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

National Museum of African American History and Culture

2020.38.1.6

fliers (printed matter)

Unknown - Restrictions Possible
Rights assessment and proper usage is the responsibility of the user.

ink on paper (fiber product)

H x W: 8 1/8 × 5 3/4 in. (20.6 × 14.6 cm)

Object Name • Flier for “The International Heavyweight Rappers Showdown Part 1”

nmaahc_2020.38.1.6

NMAAHC

FLIER FOR “THE INTERNATIONAL HEAVYWEIGHT RAPPERS SHOWDOWN PART 1”

National Museum of African American History and Culture

CC0

1980s

Dr. Jeckyll & Mr. Hyde • Sweet G • Funky 4 + 1 • CD III • Kid Nice MC's • Fresh, Doug E. • DJ Starchild • New York City Mission Society Cadet Corps • Soulsonic Force • The Force M.D.'s • Kool Kyle • Double Trouble • The Cold Crush Brothers • The B-Boys • Finesse 4 • The Fearless Four • Disco Four • Whodini • Rock Master Scott and the Dynamic Three • Treacherous Three • The Fat Boys • The Roxy • Run-D.M.C. • Fantasy Three • Kool DJ AJ • Les Love • Blow, Kurtis • Crash Crew • D'Bora • The Rake • Furious Five • Master Don and the Death Committee • Fresh 3 MC’s • Awesome 4 • Kevie Kev • Busy Bee Starski • CMCC Warriors • Spicer, Jimmy • The World's Famous Supreme Team • Grandmaster Flash • Spyder D

New York City • United States • North and Central America • Bronx

Design • Nightlife • Graphic arts • Hip-hop (Music) • Disco (Music) • Rappers (Musicians) • DJs (Musicians) • Youth • Urban life

Locale • Bronx • City • New York City • State • New York • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America

Images

Unknown - Restrictions Possible