True Pioneers of Hip Hop

  • The team painted legendary figures in Hip Hop including the original pioneers Cool Herc, Africa Bambata, Grandmaster Flash, Sha Rock, and Wanda Dee, all of whom were from the South Bronx.
  • This teen works on the mural’s border, which names all of the early Hip Hop acts. An RIP section also recognizes Hip Hop artists who have passed away.
  • During the beginning stages of painting, DJ Cool Clyde stopped by with Lightning Lance. The group included both him and artwork from one of his early LPs.
  • Throughout the process, there was a high level of enthusiasm and participation all around, with group members conducting research on their own and bringing in images and reference material.
  • The vibrancy of the mural’s color palette perfectly mirrors the energy in the Hip Hop community and its music.

Project Description

Monroe High School is located in the South Bronx, in the heart of the area that gave birth to Hip Hop in the 1970s. Monroe High School wanted to recognize the historical impact and cultural contribution of the neighborhood by creating a mural in the school lunch room to acknowledge and celebrate early Hip Hop culture and the local figures that created it. The Groundswell team decided to focus on portraits of the key figures that were instrumental in beginning Hip Hop as a movement. Other images of significance that were generated included the housing projects where Hip Hop began, the number 4 and 6 trains that serve the South Bronx, graffiti style lettering, and break dancing. Local DJ Cool Clyde, the first DJ to use the scratching technique and who still lives in the neighborhood, spent time with the group and is included in the mural. Teachers and members of the school community were highly impressed by the visual impact of the mural and the enthusiasm of the participants.

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Project Info

Location: 1551 East 172nd Street Bronx, NY 10472
Neighborhood: 
South Bronx


Program: 
School-based Programs


Theme: 
Arts and Culture


Year: 
2005


Partner(s): 
James Monroe High School


Lead Artist(s):
Conor McGrady


Participants: 

 

Winston 'Neo' Henry
Issac Johnson
Tiffany Joy
Melissa Torres
Sergio Varel
Medium: 
Acrylic on Plaster


Dimensions: 7 x 20ft

Fun Facts

Suggested Activity
Do you know who the Hip Hop artists included in the mural are? Find out more about these impressive musicians.
Legend Symbol
The turntable. Turntables are an important part of Hip Hop culture. They were developed from phonographs, which were created in 1877.
Fun Fact
The first pioneers of Hip Hop as a cultural phenomenon began their careers in the area surrounding Monroe High School near Elder Avenue and the surrounding housing projects.