Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five
| Company type | Musical group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Hip hop music |
| Founded | 1978 in South Bronx, New York City, United States |
| Founder | Grandmaster Flash |
| Headquarters | South Bronx, New York City , United States |
Area served | United States, internationally |
Key people | Grandmaster Flash, Kidd Creole, Keef Cowboy, Melle Mel, Scorpio, Rahiem |
| Products | Hip hop music, albums (The Message, On the Strength) |
| Website | www |
Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five emerged as a pioneering American hip-hop ensemble originating from the South Bronx area of New York City in 1978. The lineup featured Grandmaster Flash, Kidd Creole, Keef Cowboy, Melle Mel, Scorpio, and Rahiem. Their innovative contributions to turntablism, breakbeat DJ techniques, and socially aware lyricism significantly influenced the formative years of hip hop music.
During the late 1970s, the group built a strong local following through live performances and party appearances. By 1980, they had secured a contract with Sugar Hill Records and gained widespread attention with their debut hit "Freedom." Their 1982 single "The Message" alongside the album The Message delivered powerful political and societal insights, establishing them as pioneers of conscious hip-hop and achieving mainstream acclaim.
Although the group disbanded in 1983, they briefly reunited in 1987 to produce the album On the Strength. Following this, they permanently dissolved. The group's influence endures through Grandmaster's Furious Five, which currently includes Melle Mel and Scorpio.
Recognized as one of hip hop’s most influential collectives, they earned distinction as the first hip hop artists inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2007. In 2023, Billboard honored them among the greatest rap groups ever. Their track "The Message" was inducted into the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress in 2002. Additionally, Rolling Stone placed it at number 59 on its 2021 list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
Formation and early years (1978–1979)
Prior to establishing the Furious Five, Grandmaster Flash collaborated with the "L Brothers"—comprising "Mean Gene" Livingston, Claudio Livingston, and Grand Wizzard Theodore. He then assembled Cowboy, Melle Mel, and Kidd Creole (Nathaniel Glover) to create the Three MC's, widely recognized as one of the earliest emcee groups in contemporary rap. Cowboy contributed a distinctive "scat routine" that mimicked the rhythmic patterns of U.S. Army marching drills using phrases like "hip/hop/hip/hop." This vocal style gradually evolved into the term "Hip Hop," which was initially used pejoratively by critics of disco before being embraced by the music industry.
Melle Mel and Kidd Creole were pioneers in adopting the title "MCs" (Masters of Ceremonies). This trio collaborated closely with Flash, who later incorporated Scorpio and Rahiem (Guy Todd Williams) into the group. During internal conflicts within the band, Flash briefly partnered with rapper Kurtis Blow. Before forming the Cold Crush Brothers in 1979, DJ Charlie Chase served as the Furious Five’s DJ.
Dominating New York City's rap circuit prior to hip hop's mainstream emergence, Grandmaster Flash & The Furious 5 set benchmarks for future emcee ensembles. Their debut single "We Rap More Mellow" was released under the moniker The Younger Generation, a name assigned by their producer. While they gained local acclaim for their proficient rapping and DJing skills, extensive recording did not occur until after Sugarhill Gang's "Rapper's Delight" demonstrated commercial viability for hip hop.
In 1979, they issued "Superappin" through Enjoy Records, subsequently signing with Sylvia Robinson's Sugar Hill Records, which granted them permission to perform over popular DJ tracks circulating at that time.
Commercial breakthrough and The Message era (1980–1982)
The group's initial release on Sugarhill Records came in 1980 with the single "Freedom," which climbed to #19 on the R&B charts and sold more than 50,000 units. Its successor, "Birthday Party," also enjoyed notable success. In 1981, Grandmaster Flash introduced The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash on the Wheels of Steel, an innovative live recording featuring multiple turntables and incorporating tracks from Queen and Chic. This release was groundbreaking as it was the first to highlight scratching and turntablism techniques.
In 1982, they unveiled "The Message", a track produced by Clifton "Jiggs" Chase alongside Ed "Duke Bootee," who co-wrote the song with input from Sylvia Robinson and Melle Mel. The song delivered sharp political and social insights, establishing itself as a foundational piece of conscious hip-hop. It reached #4 on the R&B chart and #62 on the pop chart, reinforcing hip-hop’s acceptance in mainstream music. Notably, Melle Mel was the sole vocalist on this track apart from background singers.
Their first album, also named The Message, is widely regarded as a pivotal work in hip-hop history.
Group dissolution (1983–1986)
In 1983, Grandmaster Flash initiated a $5 million lawsuit against Sugar Hill Records over unpaid royalties. As a result, the single "White Lines (Don't Don't Do It)" was credited to "Grandmaster & Melle Mel" and reached #47 on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. Another legal battle concerning unauthorized use of Liquid Liquid’s "Cavern" sample further strained Sugar Hill Records financially.
This dispute over royalties caused a rift within the group. After releasing "White Lines," Melle Mel, Scorpio, and Cowboy departed to form Grandmaster Melle Mel and the Furious Five, issuing an album in 1984. Simultaneously, Grandmaster Flash, Kidd Creole, and Rahiem signed with Elektra Records, bringing in Kevin "The Lord LaVon" Dukes, Russell "Mr. Broadway" Wheeler, and "Larry-Love" Parker. Under the name "Grandmaster Flash," they launched They Said It Couldn't Be Done, The Source, and Ba-Dop-Boom-Bang. Although these new members comprised a version of the "Furious Five," they were unable to use that name due to Sugar Hill's ownership rights.
While Grandmaster Flash's ensemble achieved moderate success with albums charting within Billboard's top fifty R&B/Hip-Hop Albums list, Melle Mel’s faction enjoyed greater commercial hits; notably, "Beat Street Breakdown" peaked at #8 on the R&B chart. Additionally, Melle Mel appeared on Chaka Khan's Grammy-winning single "I Feel for You" in 1985.
Reunion period and decline (1987–1988)
In 1987, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five reunited for a benefit event at Madison Square Garden and soon after recorded On the Strength, their first studio album in nearly five years, released in April 1988. The album was met with mixed reactions and failed to replicate the impact of The Message. Following this release, the group was unable to recapture their early-1980s influence and ultimately disbanded permanently.
Permanent dissolution and activities following On the Strength (1989–2022)
Following the group's breakup, certain members briefly joined forces again. In 1989, Melle Mel, Scorpio, and Cowboy came together to release Piano under the name Grandmaster Melle Mel and the Furious Five. Tragically, Keith "Cowboy" Wiggins passed away on September 8, 1989.
Grandmaster Flash took on production duties for Just-Ice's 1990 album Masterpiece, served as musical director for The Chris Rock Show, and launched several albums such as The Official Adventures of Grandmaster Flash, Essential Mix: Classic Edition, and The Bridge (Concept of a Culture). His honors include receiving the DJ Vanguard Award from Bill Gates in 2004, the RIAA Lifetime Achievement Award at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005, and BET's I Am Hip-Hop Icon Award in 2006. In 2008, he published his autobiography titled The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash: My Life, My Beats.
Melle Mel collaborated with Quincy Jones on the Grammy-winning album Back on the Block, securing Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group in 1991. He earned another Grammy in 2002 for Best Spoken Word Album for his contribution to Q: The Autobiography of Quincy Jones. In 1997, he signed with Straight Game Records and released Right Now alongside Mr. Ness/Scorpio; later, they formed Die Hard and issued the album On Lock in 2012.
On January 23, 2007, Mel adopted the stage name Grandmaster Melle Mel and unveiled his solo project Muscles, which featured the track "M3 – The New Message." Additionally, he authored a children's book titled The Portal in the Park, accompanied by a CD containing rap tracks that included contributions from a then-emerging Lady Gaga on songs like "World Family Tree" and "The Fountain Of Truth."
In 2002, Mel expressed doubts about a potential reunion due to limited commercial appeal. Nonetheless, starting in 2014, Melle Mel and Scorpio toured extensively throughout the United States, United Kingdom, and Europe under the name Grandmaster's Furious Five ft Melle Mel and Scorpio. They released the single "Some Kind of Sorry" in May 2016 to coincide with a UK and European tour alongside The Sugarhill Gang.
On August 2, 2017, Nathaniel Glover (known as Kidd Creole) was arrested on murder charges; by 2022, he was convicted of manslaughter and received a sixteen-year prison sentence.
Legacy and influence
Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five hold a foundational place in hip-hop history. They were celebrated at the VH1 Hip Hop Honors in 2005 and inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2007. Their vinyl records and Grandmaster Flash's turntable are preserved within the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, highlighting their enduring cultural importance.
Their artistic legacy has influenced a wide spectrum of performers such as Anthony Kiedis, New Order, Run-D.M.C., Public Enemy, Salt-n-Pepa, Eminem, Busta Rhymes, Beastie Boys, Wu-Tang Clan, Tupac Shakur, The Notorious B.I.G., N.W.A, and Snoop Dogg. Notably, Ice Cube’s remix of "Check Yo Self" incorporates a sample from "The Message," demonstrating their lasting imprint on hip-hop production techniques.
Discography
- Albums
- The Message (1982)
- On the Strength (1988)