Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five
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Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five
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| Background information | |
| Origin | The Bronx, New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Genres | Hip hop |
| Years active |
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| Labels | |
| Associated acts | Sylvia Robinson |
| Past members | Grandmaster Flash Keef Cowboy Melle Mel The Kidd Creole Scorpio Rahiem |
Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five was a famous American hip hop group. They started in 1978 in the South Bronx, New York City. The group had six members: Grandmaster Flash, Melle Mel, The Kidd Creole, Keef Cowboy, Scorpio, and Rahiem.
This group was very important in the early days of hip hop music. They used new techniques like turntablism, which is using turntables to create music. They also used breakbeat DJing, which means playing only the drum breaks from songs. Their songs often had conscious lyrics, which means they talked about important social issues.
How They Started and Became Famous
In the late 1970s, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five became well-known. They performed at many parties and live shows in their local area. By 1980, they signed with Sugar Hill Records, a record label.
The group became very popular in the early 1980s. Their first big hit song was "Freedom." But their biggest success came in 1982 with the song "The Message." They also released an album with the same name.
"The Message" was a special song. It talked about important social and political issues. This song helped start a new type of hip hop called conscious hip-hop. This style of music uses lyrics to make people think about the world around them.
The Group's Legacy
After a while, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five split into two different groups. This happened because they had some disagreements. They briefly reunited in 1987 and released another album called On the Strength. After that, they broke up for good.
Even today, the group's music and influence live on. Melle Mel and Scorpio continue to perform as "Grandmaster's Furious Five."
Many people believe Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five are one of the greatest hip hop groups ever. In 2007, they were put into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. They were the very first hip hop group to receive this honor.
In 2002, their song "The Message" was chosen by the Library of Congress. It was one of 50 recordings added to the National Recording Registry. This registry saves important sound recordings. Rolling Stone magazine also ranked "The Message" as number 51 on its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time in 2004.
Images for kids
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1979 Bronx Rap Battle. Design: Buddy Esquire. Image courtesy of Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.
See also
In Spanish: Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five para niños
