Bronx Block Parties and the Birth of Hip Hop (1973–1980)

1. TAKI 183 popularizes modern NYC tagging

   Jul 21, 1971Labels: TAKI 183, NYC graffiti

   • NYT Wiki

2. Afrika Bambaataa founds the Universal Zulu Nation

   Jan 1, 1973Labels: Afrika Bambaataa, Universal Zulu

   • Britannica

3. Kool Herc and Cindy Campbell host Back-to-School Jam

   Aug 11, 1973Labels: Kool Herc, 1520 Sedgwick

   • Smithsonian
   • 1520 Sedgwick

4. Herc spotlights extended “breaks” for dancers

   Aug 11, 1973Labels: Kool Herc, breakbeats

   • Smithsonian
   • KEXP

5. Scratch technique emerges from Grand Wizzard Theodore

   Jan 1, 1975Labels: Grand Wizzard, scratching

   • Theodore Bio
   • Guardian

6. Grandmaster Flash develops advanced mixing techniques

   Jan 1, 1976Labels: Grandmaster Flash, mixing techniques

   • Britannica

7. Rock Steady Crew forms in the Bronx

   Jan 1, 1977Labels: Rock Steady, breaking

   • RSC Bio

8. 1977 NYC blackout fuels myths about equipment access

   Jul 13, 1977Labels: 1977 NYC, equipment looting

   • Blackout 1977
   • OJP Abstract

9. Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five form

   Jan 1, 1978Labels: Grandmaster Flash, The Furious

   • Britannica
   • Group Bio

10. Cold Crush Brothers form as competitive party crew

    Jan 1, 1978Labels: Cold Crush, party crew

    • Cold Crush

11. Rapper’s Delight brings rap to national charts

    Sep 16, 1979Labels: Sugarhill Gang, Rapper's Delight

    • WaPo
    • Song Info

12. Bronx party culture stabilizes into a recognized movement

    Jan 1, 1980Labels: Bronx hip-hop, movement

    • 1520 Sedgwick
    • KEXP