Back To Beat Street: Photos of Hip-Hop In The Bronx Back in the 1980s

Sophie Bramly spent 1982 to 1984 photographing clubs and culture in the Bronx. The New York borough was home to new sound and look.

Her pictures of breakdancers auditioning for the movie Beat Street at the Roxy (515 West 18th Street), the likes of Mr Freeze with his boombox. MCs and graffiti are compiled in the book Yo! The Early Days of Hip Hop 1982-84, published by Soul Jazz Books.

More: Sophie Bramly h/t: flashbak

Zephyr and Fab Five Freddy at the Beat Street audition at the Roxy, 1984

Beat Street features a performance at the Roxy by Afrika Bambaataa, and appearances by: Soulsonic Force, Jazzy Jay, Doug E. Fresh, Bernard Fowler, the New York City Breakers – Beat Street Breakers, the Rock Steady Crew, Crazy Legs and Grandmaster Melle Mel & the Furious Five, among others.

B-Side, Amad Henderson (co-founder of the Zulu Nation) and Afrika Bambaataa, in front of Greene Street Recordings

“All these photos speak for a time that is so special, is never coming back and changed the world,” said Grand Mixer D. St. “It’s pretty much this experience that changed everything for ever. What makes it amazing, is that you hear stories about superheroes that changed the world, and that was us.”

The Beasite Boys

The Bronx River Center

Scorpio of the Furious Five backstage.

Muhamad, of the Magnificent Force Breakdance Crew, at The Bronx River Center

Grandmixer D.ST

Futura takes the Subway

Futura and Keith Haring at the Fun gallery

The Roxy

D.ST at home in his recording studio

At the auditions for Beat Street

Afrika Bambaataa and DJ Kool Herc at the Zulu Nation anniversary party, Bronx River Center