How to clip or cut a background into a fill. Solved: Clipping Mask with layers in the correct order

A few years ago I created the attached image. I cannot figure out how I did it. I need to create an image using the same process but the layers in this one gives me one layer, about 100 paths in a group, and a black rectangle behind the image. 

I am drawing a blank this morning on different terms to search for in this discussion community. 

Appreciate the help!