dollar industry that has impacted every major industry of the economy. Grandmaster Flash and the Furious 5 have created the blueprint for so many artists of today.
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious 5 was a household name. Fans could not stop talking about the rap artists who were also known as trendsetters of their time. They could not wait to see them perform their hits; “The Message”; “Beat Street”; “New York New York”; “Survival”; “Scorpio”; “It’s Nasty” and “Birthday Party” to name a few. They held down the #1 records in the UK with “White Lines”; “Beat Street” and “Step Off”. They’ve continued to tour over the years to sold out crowds across Europe and
abroad.
Quincy Jones used their vocal talents for his Grammy Award winning albums, “Back On The Block” and “Q’s Jook Joint,” respectively. They also lent their voices to the legendary Chaka Khan for her Grammy winning single, “I Feel For You”, earning a Grammy for Mele Mel – the first for any rap artist. Among their many achievements is the performance on the anti-apartheid song “Sun City”, created by
Bruce Springstein and guitarist Steven Van Zandt. On that project they performed along with Eddie Kendricks and David Ruffin of the Temptations, Ruben Blades, Miles Davis & Herbie Hancock.
Their music has had a major impact in the Hip Hop culture and continues to accumulate awards. Grandmaster Flash & the Furious 5 were recently honored on the Bronx Walk of Fame, with a street named after them. In 2007 they became the first rap group ever to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. “The Message” was the first rap song that contained social commentary, and is in the
archives of the Library of Congress for its social relevance. It was the first Hip Hop record inducted in to the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2013 and received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2021.
Grandmaster Flash & the Furious 5 revolutionized the genre of rap and helped to create the template for the industry that exists today. They’ve opened the doors for rap artists today. The group continues to tour performing their groundbreaking songs with Mele Mel, Scorpio, Rahiem and Bar Shon.