Image via Complex Original
In the age of the Internet and smartphones, paper party flyers may seem borderline obsolete. Back in the '70s and '80s, when hip-hop parties were heating up the Bronx and Harlem, creating flyers was for getting the word out about your jam and gaining credibility. To get crowds to head uptown and join in on the vibe, whether at a skating rink or the legendary Ecstasy Garage Disco, hard-copy invitations were the main medium for communicating information and promoting an event.
Artists like Phase 2 and Buddy Esquire rose to prominence during this time, proving that the graphic elements of graffiti and hip-hop can be reflected in designs themselves. By combining a variety of hand-made techniques, including the use of rub-on letters and cutting and pasting (by hand, not with a click), these bills are ones you'd want to keep and hang on your own walls at home. Check out what the flyer game was like in hip-hop back in the day with these 30 Classic Hip-Hop Party Flyers.
RELATED: Green Label - The 10 Most Classic Hip Hop Albums of All Time
An Anniversary Party for the Cold Crush Brothers, 1981
An Anniversary Party for the Cold Crush Brothers, 1981
You probably won't find free Champale at parties today, but for some it was the booze of choice in the early '80s.
Man Dip Lite & Skatin' Palace Presents Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, 1983
Man Dip Lite & Skatin' Palace Presents Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, 1983
This Buddy Esquire flyer includes what seems like pen doodles, reminding us that these layouts are completely done by hand. It promotes a classic roller skating rink jam featuring performances by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five.
Disco Boogie, Year Unknown
Disco Boogie, Year Unknown
Although symmetry is more discrete in this layout, the flyer indeed includes the style of Phase "Too."
NYC Showdown M.C. Throwdown, 1982
NYC Showdown M.C. Throwdown, 1982
Done by hand, the lines and symmetry on this flyer are impressive. Its advertised event, an emceeing jam where "crowds pick the winners," sounds like real hip-hop.
The "Heart Beat" Showdown, 1981
The "Heart Beat" Showdown, 1981
The event information is presented in rhyme, so by the time we get to the Treacherous 3, our minds are already with the rocking vibe.
Master Ace & Eddie Ed Dance Contest, Year Unknown
Master Ace & Eddie Ed Dance Contest, Year Unknown
As much as dance contests are about the dancers, they are as much about the DJs who have power from what they spin to make or break the scene. The host DJs of this jam, along with the Cold Crush Brothers, would have guaranteed the right vibe. The female in the sexy jumpsuit doesn't hurt either.
A Valentine's Day Sureshot, 1981
A Valentine's Day Sureshot, 1981
This flyer by Phase 2 and Sisco Kid features an impressive illustration representing what Bronx hip-hop in the early '80s might have looked like, "Walking down the street with your box in your hand." The fine print also announces a "Battle of the High Schools" that awarded trophies to groups who cheered the loudest, encouraging audience involvement and unity in hip-hop.
Mr. Magic's Xmas Chill, Year Unknown
Mr. Magic's Xmas Chill, Year Unknown
Symmetry plays a big part in old school flyer design, and Mr. Magic is cleverly placed between silhouettes of two facing heads. While Whodini paid tribute to Mr. Magic with "Magic's Wand" in 1983, appearing at this Xmas party together, Biggie remembered the DJ in "Juicy" in 1994.
Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five Live, 1981
Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five Live, 1981
This concert demands "no sneakers" as hip-hop shows demanded more fancy attire back in the day. You had to look nice to earn your attendance at these legendary shows.
image via
Big Bad Easter Jam, 1981
Big Bad Easter Jam, 1981
Spending Easter Sunday at Ecstasy Garage sounds like the right thing to do, especially when brothers Mean Gene and Wiz Theodore were spinning. That's big and bad.
Shorts N Sneaka' Ball, 1982
Shorts N Sneaka' Ball, 1982
Celebrating its theme, the party features a shortest or tightest pair of shorts contest for the "fly gals." Back in the day, the right outfit alone could also get you into a party, as you only needed "any one of the three"—sneaks, shorts, and ID.
image via
Paul Winley Recording Artist Show, 1981
Paul Winley Recording Artist Show, 1981
Eddie Ed started creating flyers following his brother Buddy Esquire's involvement in the game. While he drew the letters, his partner Poo Two did the drawings, to create truly handmade designs such as this one. The flyer promotes Afrika Bambaataa under Winley Records, while the artist left the label to record the famed "Planet Rock" with Tommy Boy Records in 1982.
image via
The Sunken Treasure Presents: The Cold Crush Brothers, 1981
The Sunken Treasure Presents: The Cold Crush Brothers, 1981
Flyers need to carry lots of information, but a text-heavy layout does not mean a boring one. Combining hand-drawn bubble letters with rub-on lettering, the layout is a win for its design.
Perry B. Productions Presents Charlie Chase, Tony Tone, Cold Crush 4 MCs, 1981
Perry B. Productions Presents Charlie Chase, Tony Tone, Cold Crush 4 MCs, 1981
Designed by Buddy Esquire, the flyer features an illustration by Martin Williams. As the flyer game was hot in 1981, the two tag themselves as "the professionals."
Gong Show Thursdays, 1981
Gong Show Thursdays, 1981
The illustration reflects Phase 2's graffiti background, while it rings the gong by announcing crazy dope weekly lineups.
The Return of Those Everlovin' Jazzy 5 Gentlemen, 1983
The Return of Those Everlovin' Jazzy 5 Gentlemen, 1983
If appearances by Jazzy Jay and Afrika Bambaataa didn't convince you to come to the party, the "first caveman stomp contest" sounds like an epic event not to be missed.
The 1981 Battle of the High Schools, 1981
The 1981 Battle of the High Schools, 1981
This Phase 2 flyer uses more straight lines and text than his other layouts, but retains its symmetry. The event, celebrating and gathering hip-hop talents from NYC's five boroughs, seems appropriate to its venue ,the Audubon Ballroom, where Malcolm X was assassinated.
The TV Party, 1983
The TV Party, 1983
The revolution will not be, but this party was indeed televised. Featuring DJs Afrika Bamaataa and Jazzy Jay, the jam asks you to "leave your troubles at home" as it promotes the values of hip-hop: peace, unity, love, and having fun.
A Birthday Tribute to Melle Mel, 1981
A Birthday Tribute to Melle Mel, 1981
Before Grand Wizard Theodore invented scratching and the needle drop, he practiced with and learned from Grandmaster Flash. Before Flash's dispute with Melle Mel, everyone enjoyed a happy birthday celebration.
A Midtown Superduper Baad Talent Show & Disco, 1981
A Midtown Superduper Baad Talent Show & Disco, 1981
Hip-hop appreciates all talents.
Super Disco Part 1, 1979
Super Disco Part 1, 1979
Rub-on letters may results in imperfect lines, but they also make a raw flyer featuring a young Grandmaster Flash.
The Showcase Studio, Year Unknown
The Showcase Studio, Year Unknown
Emcees, DJs, and Big Bambus must have defined a Cold Crush party.
Double Day Super Explosions, 1981
Double Day Super Explosions, 1981
The year 1981 was when Grandmaster Caz joined the Cold Crush brothers, and the rest became history.
The Treacherous Three Second Anniversary, 1982
The Treacherous Three Second Anniversary, 1982
Hopefully, Supreme won't think that The Treacherous Three copied their logo so many years before the brand existed.
Showdown, 1986
Showdown, 1986
In the year that Eric B. and Rakim's debut single was released, the DJ asked you to "check out his melody." Today, we would love to have witnessed that show.
Last Day of School Celebration, 1979
Last Day of School Celebration, 1979
When school was out, the high school kids would party it up until 4 in the morning.
Uptown vs Downtown Pt. 1, 1981
Uptown vs Downtown Pt. 1, 1981
Phase 2's classic symmetrical design is given funky purple accents.
The International Pro/Am Rapper Breakers Academy Awards, Year Unknown
The International Pro/Am Rapper Breakers Academy Awards, Year Unknown
The artists attending these Academy Awards included legendary breakers and emcees, including the stars of Wild Style and Beat Street.
A DJ Kool Herc Party, 1973
A DJ Kool Herc Party, 1973
Kool Herc presents himself in this handwritten flyer for a party with affordable admission fees.
The DefJam Series, 1986
The DefJam Series, 1986
The Apollo Theater in Harlem was a popular venue for many prominent performances and events, including this series of shows featuring early DefJam artists, before the label became part of a global music conglomerate.