Flier for “The First Winter Super Fest”: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

A flier for “The First Winter Super Fest” presented by Sound two Productions. The flier is in portrait orientation and printed on pink paper with black text and graphics and five black-and-pink photographs. The body of the flier is framed with an uneven, thick, black line. Inside the frame, at the top of the flier, is a small black outlined box with the promoter’s name that reads [Sound two Prod. PRESENTS] followed by a five-pointed star graphic. Below is the event tag line and name in small and large text that reads [THE GREATEST EVENT IN THE HISTORY OF RAP / THE FIRST WINTER SUPER FEST]. The event title is framed on either side with graphics of two stylized figures dancing, a line of small, black five-pointed stars, two rows of black dots, and two black outlined and shadowed, pink five-pointed stars.

Centered below the event title is a black-and-pink photograph of The Force MD’s. The six group members, Stevie D., Antoine "TCD" Lundy, Rodney "Khalil" Lundy, Jessie Lee Daniels, "Trisco" Pearson and Charles "Mercury" Nelson, are depicted in two rows set against a beach background. They are wearing matching dark pants and white sweatshirts with a large letter [F] on the front. Three of the group members are squatting in a triangle formation in the front row. The other three group members stand in the back row with one at the center with his hands raised. His proper left hand is splayed and held palm up and his proper right index finger pointing upwards. Each of the two men on either side of him have one arm raised as if introducing the banner above that reads [THE FORCE MD’S]. Printed over the bottom center of the photograph is small text that reads [DOING THEIR SMASH HITS]. A black outlined box below with the group’s song and album titles printed in the interior reads [Tears · Let ME Love You · Forgive / Intro. Their NEW DEBUT ALBUM !!! / “LOVE LETTERS”]. A small photograph of D.J. A.J. to the left of The Force MD’s photograph depicts the artist sitting on a folding chair with his arms crossed over his chest. He is wearing a dark tone tee-shirt with the word [AMSTERDAM] printed over his chest, leather pants, aviator sunglasses, a leather flat cap, and a leather pyramid stud belt with matching collar and wrist cuff. His head is turned, and he is looking towards the left edge of the photograph. Just above the photograph is the artist’s name, [D.J. A.J.], and overlaid on the bottom left corner of the photograph is a pink square with black text that reads “Doing Their Hit” / “A.J. Scratch”]. A small photograph of Busy Bee Starski to the right of the photograph of The Force MD’s depicts the artist from the waist up, standing against a wood paneled wall. He is wearing a black tee-shirt and is holding his proper left hand up in a “peace” sign. Above the photograph is the text [ChiefRocker[sic] / BusyBee[sic]].

Printed below the photograph of D.J. A.J. is small text that reads [GUARANTEED TO APPEAR / AND PERFORM]. Below the photograph of The Force MD’s is additional show participant information in centered text in varying fonts and sizes that reads [JOHN DUCKETT, / (NEW HAVEN) / WNHU RADIO / (NEW HAVEN NO#1) / DJ REGGIE REG / “ADDED ATTRACTION” / mc BUTCH SLICK]. To the left of the centered text is a cut out, bust pose photograph of Scott Rock with vertical text printed along the interior left edge of the frame that reads [ROCK WITH OUR KILLER SOUND SYSTEM] and horizontal text below the photograph that reads [(SCOTT ROCK SOUND SYSTEM)]. To the right of the centered text is a small photograph of Dr. Shock. He is depicted in full length wearing a white costume and black hat. Above the photograph is small text that reads [(NEW YORK’S NO#1)] and large text printed below that reads [Dr. Shock]. Vertical text printed along the interior right edge of the frame reads [(ALL NEW HAVEN CREWS INVITED TO ROCK…WANT / TO SEE YOU FOR FUTURE BOOKINGS)].

At the bottom of the flier are three boxes with show information. Printed in the left box is the date and time: [9:00-Until / FRIDAY / OCT., 19]. Printed in the center box is the venue: [Melbus Club / 137 Water St. / New Haven, Conn.]. Printed in the right box is the entrance fees: [$8. B/F 10:30 / After $10.]. The back of the flier has no text or inscriptions.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: October 19, 1984
• Designed by: Unidentified
• Distributed by: Sound two Productions, American
• Subject of: The Force M.D.'s, American, founded 1981
• Subject of: Stevie D., American
• Subject of: Antoine Lundy, American, 1963 - 1998
• Subject of: Rodney Lundy, American
• Subject of: Jesse D, American
• Subject of: Trisco Pearson, American, 1963 - 2016
• Type: fliers (printed matter)
• Medium: ink on paper (fiber product)
• Dimensions: H x W: 10 7/8 × 8 7/16 in. (27.6 × 21.4 cm)
• Place used: New Haven, Connecticut, United States, North and Central America
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Design
• Topic: DJs (Musicians)
• Topic: Graphic design
• Topic: Hip-hop (Music)
• Topic: Nightlife
• Topic: Rappers (Musicians)
• Topic: Urban life
• Object number: 2020.38.1.18
• 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.