Lady Pink and the Mercedes ladies

Discover the “First Lady of Graffiti”, Lady Pink and a performance in 1979 by the Mercedes Ladies, the first all-female rap group.

On November 9, 2021, the Universal Hip Hop Museum and AllHipHop.com will celebrate Hip Hop History Month by highlighting Lady Pink, the Mercedes Ladies, Captain Rock, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (aka Andre Harrell) and Alonzo Brown). , and baby D.

Photos of Lady Pink taken by Martha Cooper and loaned with the kind permission of the UHHM.

Graffiti is often considered a guy’s sport. Many believe that women don’t (or shouldn’t) bother with the grain and grind typically associated with branding, throwing burners, or bombing trains.

This is what they thought. Until they have the chance to meet Lady Pink, the flying girl who starred in the ’80s hit movie, “Wild Style.” Lady Pink, known as the “first lady of graffiti,” has dedicated her life to erasing stereotypes and proving people wrong. She’s also a hell of a visual artist with paintings and murals all over the place.

In 2013, some of his iconic murals at 5Pointz, a place considered to be the mecca of graffiti art in New York City, were destroyed by a Queens real estate developer to create condos. A US appeals court has ruled that she and other graffiti artists are in fact deserving of damages for this violation. It proves that Hip Hop, in all mediums, matters. She also proves that Hip-Hop, regardless of gender, can fight power.

On Friday November 9, 1979, DJ Ronnie Green aka Captain Rock was one of the most influential Hip Hop influencers performing at West 123 Street in Harlem.

Captain Rock was a DJ for Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (aka Andre Harrell and Alonzo Brown) who were also appearing.

The Mercedes Ladies, the first all-female rap group, provided the female energy of the night

The Baby D of the team was taught to scratch by none other than DJ Grandwizzard Theodore himself.