Sedgwick & Cedar

MCA 1964 to 2012 Beasties Boys and Run DMC, 1986 Hells Kitchen, NYC

In 1979, when Hip Hop was still taking baby steps, Adam “MCA” Yauch at 15 years young, co-founded the Beastie Boys with Mike “Mike D” Diamond and Adam “Ad-Rock” Horowitz. MCA’s brilliant wit and trademark raspy spawned more than 30 years of boundary-pushing, body-moving music, as the three New York City co-conspirators evolved from egg-throwing teenage hardcore brats to beer-spraying hip-hop ambassadors to picket-crossing alternative-nation humanists.

No rap fan, especially early white fans over the age of 35 doesn’t have an extremely personally specific moment about first hearing some Beastie Boys song and how it exploded their worldview. In 1986, the Beastie Boys released their debut Licensed to Ill, an album that proved three white kids from New Yawk could deliver hip-hop as hot and groundbreaking as Run-D.M.C. or Public Enemy. It was also the first hip-hop album to hit No. 1 on the charts

Rev from Run DMC shared fond memories that only a brother from another mother could share. “When we (Run DMC) first met (the Beastie Boys), they came to the (Def Jam) office. They were really good rappers, but more than that, they were funny. They were not only friendly and cool, but these white cats were just so hilarious, it was amazing. It was instant bond. Right away, they drank Budweiser and we drank 40 ounces of Olde English. We wore gold chains and Cadillac emblems, and they took the emblems right off Volkswagens and put them on their necks. Their sneakers could be dirty and muddy and they could’ve had them since fifth grade, and our sneakers had to be clean. The thing that worked with us was it was the same feeling but different expression but we both rocked the music.

In my mind, they were just so dope on the mic — especially MCA. He had a really incredible style of rhyme, and I was like, this dude is amazing. Just like everybody else that ended up falling in love with MCA, that’s what was happening to me — I was like, Wow, these white boys could rap. It was incredible to see white kids rapping like that, being so cool, and sticking to their roots. It wasn’t white rappers trying to be black — they were themselves, and we respected that. Real recognized real.

• Posted on: May 7, 2012

Happy Birthday and Respect to The Father of Hip Hop Culture, DJ KOOL HERC.

We pay homage to KOOL HERC for creating an art form and a vision that changed the world for the better.

From the very beginning, since August 11, 1973 he brought people together. His original jams in the small rec room of 1520 Sedgwick Avenue and Cedar Park allowed poor kids a safe haven to get down and escape from the harsh surroundings of South Bronx, NY which was the poorest place in 1970s America.

Later he inspired others to carry the torch he lit which spawned a multi-billion dollar wild fire.

Most importantly, his creation, Hip Hop has become the common language of kids of all shades, colors and backgrounds from every corner of this planet.

As a grown man, he has fought to preserve affordable housing for the less fortunate among us.

His presence is always felt when he is in the building. Like a true father at the head of the table… silent protector who will show disapproval with a piercing look, (knowing you can do better) or express love with a soft encouraging word. He does this whether you’re a multi-platinum artist or the man on the street.

No words can truly express our appreciation and love for this man. Humbly we say, “Happy Birthday Kool Herc”

Sedgwick & Cedar Family

• Posted on: Apr 17, 2012

February 6th – Hip-Hop photographer Joe Conzo Jr. was born in The Bronx, New York, on this day in 1963.

Conzo, who studied photography from a young age and eventually at The School Of Visual Arts in New York City, grew up and went to school with some of the members of The Cold Crush Brothers and eventually became their official photographer and shot the pioneering rap group in the mid-1970`s and early 1980`s capturing the first historical moments of hip-hop.

Conzo would also go on to shoot The Treacherous 3, The Fearless Four and The Fantastic 5 in early historical venues such as The Roxy, Harlem World and Ecstasy Garage.
Conzo also shot historical photographs of Kurtis Blow, Afrika Bambaataa and hip-hop founder DJ Kool Herc.

Conzo’s father Joe Conzo Sr. was a close friend of Latin music legend Tito Puente, who Conzo also shot extensively as well.

Conzo’s photographs have appeared in films, books and in exhibits around the world, most notably at The Schomburg Center For Research In Black Culture in New York City.

Conzo continues to photograph hip-hop artists today and most recently shot pictures of the recent Occupy: Wall Street protest.

• Posted on: Feb 7, 2012

We celebrate the life of Don Cornelius a true pioneer, an innovator, and a trailblazer. He was the first African-American to create, produce, host and more importantly OWN his own television show. Cornelius who launched Soul Train in 1971 with his cool, mellow baritone voice, stylish suits, perfect afro, paved the way for singers, musicians and dancers, giving them the ultimate platform to showcase their talents when no one else would. Before MTV, before BET, there was ‘Soul Train. There were hardly any venues at that time, especially on TV, that would give African American artists any exposure, including ‘[American] Bandstand.

Don Cornelius was responsible for discovering and nurturing numerous R&B and soul performers and created a platform for young adult people to come together, dance and have good clean fun. With the inception of ‘Soul Train,’ a young, progressive brother set the pace and worldwide standard for young aspiring African American entrepreneurs in TV. He transcended cultural barriers among young adults. They became one.

Soul Train helped to reinforce to generations of black people – not just in America, but around the world – that we too were cool, talented, and worth emulating. We too, are beautiful.

Thank you Don Cornelius for Soul Train: The Hippest Trip in America!

• Posted on: Feb 3, 2012

Congrats To Our Man Astro!

The 15-year-old Brownsville, Brooklyn phenom signed a mega recording contract with LA Reid’s Epic Records. Astro, told New York Daily News: “It’s like a dream… I can finally say I’m working on my album.”

In honor of this news, Sedgwick & Cedar is offering a Celebrity Special on the S&C Fullzip Cardigan he is wearing above in the press announcement. (click Celebrity Special)

• Posted on: Jan 22, 2012