Futura 2000

From his distinctive flyers promoting parties in the Bronx, to his masterful aerosol calligraphy, to being one of the first writers to begin making the move from subway cars to canvas, Phase 2 was as influential as he was enigmatic.

Phase II was also known as a sometime D.J., dancer and a founder of the New York City Breakers crew, and an emcee. In the late 1970s, Phase 2 was a member of a crew called the Wizards, and in 1982 released a pair of singles, “The Roxy” (the storied nightclub for which he did flyers) and “Beach Boy.” The present lot takes the "The Roxy" 7" and turns the physical media into a framed artwork, highlighting the back cover art designed by Futura 2000 (now "FUTURA").

Phase II's "The Roxy" was released by Celluloid Records as 1/5 of the independent labels "New York City Rap" collection that was released in 1982, part of the marketing campaign for Kool Lady Blue's European "New York City Rap Tour."

These five records and their accompanying European live tour would introduce the emerging genre of Hip Hop to the international market, and by the end of ’82, would solidify Hip Hop in the public imaginary as the meteoric, multi-disciplinary youth movement it was in its early days. FUTURA—another fifth of the five artists who recorded tracks for Celluloid collection—was also commissioned to create a pentaptych work that serves as back cover art for all five vinyls, creating a “collect-them-all” style hype around the New York City Rap singles through the consumer promise of owning your own Futura 2000 original if you simply bought all five that made these singles even more on demand.

Highlighting one section of Futura's initial pentaptych, the present lot finalizes the transition from vinyl sleeve to framed artwork with the inclusion of a black Sharpie tag, "FUTURA."

For a more complete history of Celluloid Record's 5-single "New York City Rap" collection, see Lot 15.