Jerry Leader, a resident of 1520 Sedgwick Avenue during his youth, stands for a portrait at a basketball court outside of 1600 Sedgwick Avenue — a park where DJ Kool Herc would often lead early hip-hop parties.

As the anniversary of the famous New York block party of 1973 seeÕs its 50th year, Jerry Leader, a resident of 1520 Sedgwick Avenue during his youth, stands for a portrait at the basketball court he spent much of his early life playing outside of 1600 Sedgwick Avenue, the park where the hip hop parties would occur regularly during 1973, in The Bronx, New York, U.S., on Thursday, June 29, 2023. CREDIT: JosŽ A. Alvarado Jr. for NPR