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Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five

Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five, a pioneering force in the early days of hip-hop, hail from the South Bronx, New York City, during the late 1970s and early 1980s. The group was composed of one DJ, Grandmaster Flash (Joseph Saddler), and five rappers: Melle Mel (Melvin Glover), The Kidd Creole (Nathaniel Glover), Keith Cowboy (Keith Wiggins), Scorpio (Eddie Morris), and Rahiem (Guy Williams). Flash's innovative turntabling techniques, such as cutting, scratching, and mixing, revolutionized the way DJs approached music. Coupled with the lyrical prowess of The Furious Five, the group soared to critical acclaim.

Their seminal track, "The Message," released in 1982, is often cited as one of the most powerful and influential hip-hop songs ever, laying the groundwork for socially conscious rap. It gave a voice to the frustrations and realities of life in the urban core, a narrative that was largely unfamiliar to mainstream music audiences at the time. Along with other tracks like "White Lines (Don't Don't Do It)" and "Superrappin'," Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five helped to shape the sound of early hip-hop music, fusing funk beats with street-wise lyricism. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007, marking the first time a hip-hop group had ever received this honor, cementing their legend status within the genre.

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