![Set of six polaroids taken at the legendary South Bronx Hip Hop nightclub Disco Fever, [1981]](https://dam.sothebys.com/dam/image/lot/674cfbac-5cdc-4707-8467-34435d63485b/primary/extra_small)
The Art and Influence of Hip Hop
The Art and Influence of Hip Hop
![View full screen - View 1 of Lot 6. Set of six polaroids taken at the legendary South Bronx Hip Hop nightclub Disco Fever, [1981].](https://sothebys-md.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5cb926e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4531x5400+0+0/resize/385x459!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsothebys-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fmedia-desk%2F49%2Fe2%2Fff4468a040d2b59d8d93b2f2ae68%2F116n10777-c7d7t-t2-04.jpg)
[Disco Fever]
Set of six polaroids taken at the legendary South Bronx Hip Hop nightclub Disco Fever, [1981]
Lot Closed
March 30, 04:07 PM GMT
Estimate
2,500 - 3,500 USD
Lot Details
Description
Set of six color Polaroid photographs taken at the South Bronx Hip Hop nightclub, Disco Fever, ca. 1981:
1. 4.5 by 6.5 (11.4 x 16.5 cm.), white cardboard with gray frame, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY COWBOY 9/20/81", "BIG BANK$", "THE DUKE", "DYNAMITE", "GRANDMASTER FLASH" over "VERY CLEVER" sticker on bottom center, tape and staple marks on back.
2. 3.25 by 4.25 (8.3 x 11 cm.), white cardboard backing, staple at top center, "JR. WELTERWEIGHT OF THE WORLD 7/16/81", "SAOUL MAMBY WBC SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMP", with Sal Abbatiello (owner of Disco Fever), pink discoloration at top right, missing bottom of backing, bottom and left side peeling, tape on silver back.
3. 3.75 x 4 (9.5 x 10.2 cm.), "DYNAMITE", "MR. MAGIC", "RUSSELL RUSH", "WH BI", "POLACOLOR 2B114601 P" on back, sizable rip and small tape on back.
4. 3.75 x 4 (9.5 x 10.2 cm.), Sweet G, Grandmaster Flash, and Mister Magic on front, rough right edging, "POLACOLOR2 A114831" and masking tape on back.
5. 3.75 x 4 (9.5 x 10.2 cm.), Raheim and Cowboy (of the Furious 5), small tear top right, discoloration on left, right, and bottom, "COWBOY + RAHEIM", "POLACOLOR 2 H015131", and two pieces of tape on back.
6. 3.75 x 4 (9.5 x 10.2 cm.), Dynamite and Cowboy (of the Furious 5), "KODAK FILM" and small tape piece on back.
The six Polaroids offered here were taken in 1981 at the legendary South Bronx Hip Hop nightclub, Disco Fever, and feature club owner Sal Abbattiello, Mister Magic, Russell Simmons, Grandmaster Flash, members of The Furious Five, and others.
From 1976 to 1986 the South Bronx dance club Disco Fever was, according to People magazine, "the rap capital of the Solar System." Owned by Sal Abbatiello, the club was frequented by Grandmaster Flash, and was home to the very first live act by a then-unknown Run-DMC. Kurtis Blow once commented that he went to Disco Fever "to see what the street likes", while the young producer Russell Simmons effectively used the venue as a test market for new, up-and-coming, musical talent.
Condition Report:
To request a condition report for this lot, please contact pop@sothebys.com