Buddy Esquire

Lemoin Thompson (July 17, 1958 – January 31, 2014), known by the name Buddy Esquire, was the most well-known show flyer artist in the Bronx in the early days of hip-hop, from 1978 to 1982. He was self-taught and learned drawing and typography principles from books at his local library. Graffiti, Japanese anime, superhero comics, and Art Deco architecture were among his influences. Grandmaster Flash, Afrika Bambaataa, Kool Herc, the Funky 4 Plus 1, and the Cold Crush Brothers were among the hip-hop legends whose early performances were advertised on his flyers. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Buddy Esquire's visual styles helped to set the tone for hip-hop. His flyers are some of the only primary materials relating to the earliest developments of what is now the world's most popular music genre, aside from their striking graphic elements. Many of his work used jukeboxes and historic theater marquees as inspiration. His work featured sharp chiaroscuro shapes as well as a playful tension between lettering, photographs, and decorations.