Flier/ballot for the "Rappers Academy Awards 1983": Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

A flier/ballot for "Rappers Academy Awards 1983." The flier is in portrait orientation and is printed on white paper with black text. At the center is a large graphic of an Academy Award style trophy with a stylized male figure holding a sword directly in front of him. Black text printed at the top of the flier reads [COME VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE STAR [graphic of a check marked box] VOTE / Rappers Academy Awards 1983 / TROPHYS AWARDED TO RAPPERS WITH MOST VOTES]. In the top left corner is a black box with white text inside that reads [SCHOOL / OUT / PARTY!]. Printed below on the left is the location [Printing H.S. Gym / 439 West 49th St. N.Y.C.] and the date and time printed on the right [Saturday June 11th / 9pm until…. / CERTAIN GROUPS WILL PERFORM…LIVE!]. Printed to the left of the trophy graphic is smaller, bolded text that reads [The Nominees are:].

Seven categories are printed on either side of the trophy graphic with blank check boxes to the left of each name. On the far left is the category title, [BEST DJ], above the nominees: [Flash / Bambaatta / Kool Herc / Master O.C. / Easy Lee / Davey D / Wiz[sic] Kid / Charlie Chase / Afrika Islam / Crazy Eddie / Master Don / D.ST / Reggie Wells / Von K / Easy E / D.J. AJ / DJ Mike / Sugar Daddy / Eddie Cheba / Star Child / T.J. Swann / MASTER SUPREME / JUNE-BUG]. At the top center left is the category title, [BEST SOLO ARTIST], above the nominees: [Kurtis Blow / Sweet G / Busy Bee / Jimmy (Super Rhymes) Spicer / Spoonie Gee / Love Bug Starski / Kool Kyle / Spider D]. At the middle, center left is the category title, [BEST RAP RADIO SHOW], above the nominees: [Mr. Magic / Supreme Team / Jazzy / Sweet Gee Show / Streetwise / Afrika Islam Show]. Below is the category title, [BEST RAP RECORD COMPANY], above the nominees: [Sugar Hill Records / Tommy Boy / Streetwise / Profile / Mercury]. Below is the category title, [BEST RAP PROMOTORS], above the nominees: [The Godfather (Winston) / Dip-Lite / Mike of Dave / Baby Jay Prod. / Black Door / Fly Guys & Fly Girls Prod. / KLB Fun Prod. (Blue)].

Printed to the right of the trophy graphic are two additional categories. At the top right is the category title, [BEST GROUP RECORDING ARTIST], above the nominees: [Furious Five / Treacherous 3 / Fearless 4 / Soulsonic Force / Jazzy Five /Awesome Foursome / Cold Crush Bro. / Death Committee / Disco 4 / Crash Crew / Funky Four / Whodini (Jalil & Ectasy] / Guys Around the Block / West Street Mob / Dr. Jekyl[sic] & Mr. Hyde]. Below is the category title, [BEST NEW UPCOMING GROUP], above the nominees: [Dr. Rock & Force M.C.’s / Run-DMC / Romantic 4 / Disco 3 / Quicksilver & Super Lovers / Famous M.C.’s / Blade & Fortune / Imperial Bro. / Addida Dolls].

Near the bottom, a black text banner printed diagonally across the base of the trophy graphic reads [The Last Party of the School Year]. Text in varying sizes printed to the left and right of the base of the trophy graphic reads [Ladies $3.99 with Ballot b/4 10:30 / ALL TOP RAPPERS WILL BE THERE!] and [Men $4.99 with Ballot b/4 10:30 / & SURPRISE PERFORMANCE]. Below the bottom of the trophy graphic is additional text that reads [MUSIC by D.J. AFRIKA BAMBAATA / SOUND BY CARL TN’T]. Very small print in the bottom left corner reads [COUSINS PROD. & FLY GUYS & FLY GIRLS PROD. / IN ASSOC. WITH GODFATHER PROD.].

There is no printing on the back of the flier. A handwritten inscription in blue ink reads [-Murder Mike(?) / - Big Ba(?)k Ha(??)].

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: June 11, 1983
• Designed by: Unidentified
• Printed by: Unidentified
• Distributed by: Cousins Productions, American
• Distributed by: Fly Guys and Fly Girls Productions, American
• Distributed by: Godfather Productions, American
• Subject of: Grandmaster Flash, American, born 1958
• Subject of: Afrika Bambaataa, American, born 1957
• Subject of: DJ Kool Herc, Jamaican American, born 1955
• Type: ballots
• Type: fliers (printed matter)
• Medium: ink on paper (fiber product)
• Dimensions: H x W: 10 7/8 × 8 3/8 in. (27.6 × 21.3 cm)
• Place used: New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Design
• Topic: DJs (Musicians)
• Topic: Graphic design
• Topic: Hip-hop (Music)
• Topic: Nightlife
• Topic: Radio
• Topic: Rappers (Musicians)
• Object number: 2020.38.1.2
• Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
• Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of African American History and Culture through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed. The underlying object's rights statement is: Unknown - Restrictions Possible Rights assessment and proper usage is the responsibility of the user.