Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five’s “The Message” in 1982 wasn’t their first record, or even their breakthrough effort. They had achieved growing success with releases on the Sugar Hill label starting in 1980. In 1981, Flash (born Joseph Saddler in Barbados and raised in The Bronx) had started “cutting” — switching seamlessly between tracks precisely on the beat. He was already back-spinning records, essentially using them as musical instruments, and he could control the turntable speeds to his advantage as well. “The Message,” though, took his music from standard fare subject matter to social commentary. “The Message” talks about rats and roaches, bag ladies, kids using drugs, bill collectors, the escapism of watching television, and the feeling that one is about to explode. Unfortunately Grandmaster Flash would fade into the background in the later 80s, though he remains active, and enjoys well-deserved recognition as a key pioneer of hip-hop.

Article about Grandmaster Flash