Reviews (page 2 of 7)
It feels weird that there was stuff on this album that I didn't expect. It's like, come on: this is old school hip hop. One of the first hip hop albums ever released, I'm sure. I knew what I was gonna get here: a bunch of "My name is [x] and I'm here to say"-flow partytime MC raps, followed by a strongly political song at the end — not "Public Enemy political," but still. I wasn't gonna old this up to the standard of Kendrick Lamar, or even Run-DMC. I knew what I was gonna get! Or at least I figured, anyway. So you can imagine my surprise when I pop on the first song and it's, like... Basically New Jack Swing? Which, yeah, has a lot of rapping and hip hop influence in it, but... Hm. Then a few minutes later "Scorpio" hits and, goodness, this is hard-boppin' electro. Which, OK, STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON ended with a little of that — and this is **leagues** better than that was — but... Hm. And then we get to the two songs right before the title track, and, goodness, is this The Jacksons? Did The Jacksons pop by to sing a couple of songs? Like, this is full-on piano R&B. This owes more, by its own shout out, to Stevie Wonder than it does to DJ Kool Herc. What **is** this? It sure is strange to hear these styles thrown in there. After all, the most R&B I'd expect to hear on any hip hop album is, like, the hook, at most. It threw me for a bit of a loop to hear these come up. And yet, despite how my "Hm"s and "What **is** this?" would make me sound, I actually really liked all of this. I mean, go back to the top and take a snippet out of what I expected: "partytime." That's what this is all is: party music. A hip hop groove to get funky to, an electro beat to get loose to, and some R&B to really get your moves on to. Like, seriously, give these guys credit; they can do a damn fine Jacksons. And seriously, "Scorpio" bops **so hard**. If I were Arabian Prince, I'd be embarrassed that I couldn't make "Something 2 Dance 2" as good as this. Top it all off with "The Message", not only one of the first rap songs with something to say (as far as I'm aware), but with some of the catchiest and most iconic lines of early hip hop... Seriously: "DON'T PUSH ME 'COZ I'M CLOSE TO THE EDGE" and "It's like a jungle sometimes, it makes me wonder how I keep from going under." Excellent, excellent. The worst thing I can say about it is that it reuses the "Genius Of Love" sample from earlier, but, hey, it's a good sample — like I'm gonna complain. So, shucks, in general I really ain't got nothing to complain about. I suppose there's the fact that this album isn't on Spotify, and that's hardly the album's fault, now is it? I mean, I wanted a good time, and I got a good time. Like I'm gonna go too hard on 'em when they've done that much for me.
Despite a random veer into more piano-focused tunes in the later half of the record, this is still some hella good old-school hiphop. 4.5 bumped up to 5.
I’m at a 4.5 that I’ll bump up to a 5. Going into this, I only knew the title track, so imagine my surprise when this album kicked off with a sort of Jackson 5-esque R&B/soul cut. It’s hard to classify this as a rap album, because it does feel like more of a R&B album where Grandmaster Flash & friends happen to rap on some of the tracks, some of the time. It is definitely old-school hip-hop though, and I’m very glad the album does enough to stay fresh & energetic; I really did expect this to be 35 minutes of stuff similar to “The Message”, with some rather minimal production & less of the established blending of funk & rap that would come to define the genre. Hell, the “Genius of Love” sample on “It’s Nasty” immediately threw me for a loop – that might be one of the earliest examples of sampling in hip-hop ever, given that the original track only came out a year earlier. Super fun track, too. Scorpio is cool as shit; a bit long, sure, and a little bit of “human” presence would’ve done wonders to break up the monotony of the modulation, but it’s a remarkably unique blend of electronica and talkbox work for 1982. “It’s a Shame” has a few awkward production tricks, and the vocal intensity feels a little high compared to the lyrical content, to the point where it almost feels a little condescending, but I’ll give it a pass for 1982. Dreamin’ is a little awkward, given that we’re not THAT far removed from “Songs in The Key of Life” at this point in time, & “Hotter Than July” had come out 2 years before. He was (& still very much is) alive, so the tribute feels a bit strange. In a way, I’m almost reminded of all the LeBron parody songs trending online right now, but this is far more earnest. Is it glazing? Yeah, probably – you don’t write the lyric “I dream about you Stevie, you make me wonder” unless you’re going for remarkably cheesy praise. I think it’s a bit long for what it is, but I adore Stevie Wonder, so I think it’s fair enough to shoot your shot on wanting to meet the guy like this. I do think though, that if you’re gonna do a Stevie Wonder tribute, you have to have a harmonica solo. Sort of criminal that there wasn’t one; felt more like an Earth, Wind & Fire cut at the end of all that. “You Are” is painfully fine – for my ears, lots of vocal & instrumental flash instead of lyrical substance for a gospel track like that, though that opening piano is beautiful. I might be a bit hypocritical given that one track on the Christina Aguilera album we got recently, I do think it just sort of circles the platitudinal bases, with the spoken word interlude there as a sort of anchor. “The Message” solidified its place as a rap classic for me here – I’ve never fully given the lyrics their due on that track, but they’re excellent, & the skit at the end is a very direct snowball trail to get to “Fuck Tha Police” just 6 years later. I now have a way better understanding of this album’s place as an influence on hip-hop, & there is a pretty direct throughline to get from this album to the rest of 80s rap to come. There’s also a lot of R&B standards that would come into vogue the more the genres overlapped; it wouldn’t surprise me if the usage of “Genius of Love” here inspired Mariah Carey’s usage of it on “Fantasy”. Overall, it’s a pretty good 37 minutes, and any shortcomings I have with it can be sort of wiped away by “it’s 1982” – at worst, I think this is a 3, bare minimum. It’s a 4.5 that I’ll bump up to a 5 because I sort of admire it for what it is, and some of the cheesier stuff on this sort of won me over.
Not sure if I'm giving it 5 stars because it's that good or because it's so much better and varies than almost all the hip-hop that had followed.
What an absolute joy this was.
FUNK
Truly pretty great. Sometimes early hip hop can sound a bit cheesy but this still slaps as the kids say. I do think having 2 slow jams back to back interrupts the flow of the record, but they’re still good songs. Definitely a list highlight
Hey, I’m surprised too. This was great. The energy, the messages, everything. So good.
Groundbreaking artists. "White Lines" is probably their best track, but they didn't really release albums...
Wow, this album slaps but it's also sort of heartbreaking that a lot of the topics these guys rap about are still so prevalent in today's world 40+ years later. Every song has such a weight to it but man they groove.
jammin
Heavily enjoyed this. Great samples, great writing, super funky, just awesome. The release date of 1982 makes it clear that this was super fresh at the time of release, and surely served as a big influence for future hip-hop and R&B acts. Fave tracks: She's Fresh, It's Nasty, Scorpio, The Message
There is so much here. It was the culmination of a lot of things and the beginning of a new era. On top of that, it’s a great listen. I’m giving it 4 stars for the album itself, and an additional star for influence.
Come on now.
Oh ja, so geil
Quintessential funk! Terrific music from the guys who allowed it to evolve.
Genius of love sample!! New York New York has some out of pocket lyrics
One of the most important albums... EVER! "The Message" is the amalgamation of everything, EVERYTHING that came before it -- the music, the meanings, the emotions, and the ideals. "The Message" is the turning -- when discovery became a science, and the science became the purpose, and the purpose fueled generations.
When featuring the mastery of the turntable as an instrument, this literal groundbreaking album sets all new levels for what would be come Hip Hop. You can almost forgive Flash for some of the dated, cringey soul-influenced songs that do not resinate any longer. 4.5/5
awesome
Old skool hip hop hitting hard still.
One of the rare cases of innovative, historical landmark type of music on this list where the music is actually still enjoyable to listen to. It’s brilliant
Honestly, it's not the best album I listened to, nor the greatest hip-hop of all time. But few albums go beyond their music, and this one is one example.
A masterpiece of rhyme and rhythm. The beats are fresh and the flows are fantastic.
Perfect Album one of the greatest on this whole list definitely near the tippy top
А я наверно расщедрюсь и поставлю 5. Меня прям раскачало и удивило, что звучит модно даже для 2024
Täähän on paljon väkevämpi kun muistin! Ihan helkkarin hyvä! 5/5
Legendary album. I can see why this album has been sampled to hell and back by everyone since.
Classic~
Grandmaster Flash is one of those names that I know from being so important to hip hop, r&b, and electronic music; pioneering turntable techniques that allowed all of them to happen. Despite that I had never listened to his music. I find the 80's era hip hop charming and the samples recognizable and memorable. Scorpio was the only song that didn't land for me (too much disco?).
Classic. Feel-Good. Almost like listening to a Chuck Berry.
Cool
Wow, this album seriously blew me away. It's so cool, so many different pieces and genres and sounds that come together just perfectly.
Groovy
Everyone should listen to this at least once in their lives. Fantastic.
Great album, the energy in the opening tracks is infectious and the lyrics in "The Message" are moving.
Gotta give props to the Grandmaster for creating the genre of hip hop as we know it today through his sound manipulation of cutting and scratching vinyl. I also appreciate that the topics are of higher social consciousness and actually hold important messaging unlike most modern popular hip hop.
Solid early 80's rap album. I wonder if they could remix these albums without the cheesy electronic drum sounds.
Legendary and funky. You can't deny its significance on contemporary grooves.
hell yes
Definitive album
I've heard about this album in the history textbooks, but not sure I've heard it with my ears. It starts off a lot more funky than I expected with "She's Fresh" and that keeps on going into "It's Nasty" which features a sample I've definitely heard before--probably in several other places. A couple albums ago on the 1001 journey I had Ice Cube's the Predator, and I can't believe I had a thought that this album would be somewhat similar based on reputation. The Furious Five are so much more fun. The title track was a neat journey and kind of a surprise considering how much it is referenced later on. Overall I had a lot of fun with this album. Favorite track: "It's Nasty" 5/5
Starts and ends with cool hip hop, but the soul middle was unexpected. Great album.
epoch-making!!!
Fine old school rap music.
Iconic and still making waves today. Unabashedly silly at times, but that only works in its favor.
Ah, Scorpio Show no shame Shake it, baby He is DJ Flash and he came here to give you a blast And we are the Furious Five and we're rocking, shocking all the way live Show no shame Shake it Shake it, baby Ah, show no shame Don't be shy, girl Show no shame Higher baby Higher now Great album. The Message is the main thing, but the rest is solid. 5/5
Back when rap/hip hop was fun (before gangsta), plus bonus Stevie Wonder tribute. Great stuff!
10/10 one of my favorite hip hop albums
Iconic. Legendary. It really seemed like all of rap came from this album. How inventive and fresh sounding even still today. Just wow.
The song The Message is a classic. But I had no idea about the range on the rest of this album. It has classic hip hop club songs and also some soulful piano tracks too!
This album was awesome. Several iconic moments that have been endlessly sampled, this group had a monumental influence on the hip-hop scene of the last 40+ years. 5/5
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five were at the crossroads of funk, disco, and hip hop. Grandmaster Flash was a true innovator. Check out Wikipedia because he is credited as the inventor of the slipmat and techniques such as backspin, punch phrasing and scratching. This album was very cool to listen to as it was the birth of a whole new kind of music.
This album so over delivers that even the self sabotage of a love song to Stevie Wonder can't steal a star.
o g
cool
One of the first hip-hop albums I ever heard or owned. Soooooo good! Funk, rap, R&B, rock, dance, electronica...it's all woven together superbly well and delivered with punch and fun, yet also brings up the grit and rawness, too. I still catch myself singing "The Message" at times all the years later.
Wow, dette var kult! Tidlig hiphop. Scorpio blir kanskje nesten litt for rar, men ellers er dette strøkent. De politiske elementene er like aktuelle i 2026. Høydepunkter: The Message og Its a Shame
In 1982 I opened a second-hand record shop in Newtown. I spent a lot of time in the car, checking out op-shops, auction houses, junk shops, searching for stock. The title track of this album was a big part of that year’s soundtrack. By the 1990’s there was a fantastic mural painted on a wall in Enmore that included the words “It’s like a jungle sometimes”. That song has been so loved & so influential. And it still works for me every time I hear it. I’d never heard this album before, and I wasn’t familiar with most of the other tracks, although I well remember It’s Nasty (long before I realised it was a Tom Tom Club sample at the heart of the track). Scorpio is outstanding. Love the Stevie Wonder cover followed by the Stevie tribute. Just shows how loved & influential his music was for these guys. The vocals on this album are immaculate. A great, great record.
I'm half way through track 2 and I realise that my feet have been tapping. I'm gonna like this. After listening - I really did enjoy it. Not quite so keen on the slower, more luurve tracks, but they're not enough to put me off.
so funky!
THIS ALBUM IS AMAZING AND WEIRD.THE SECOND SONG HAS THE SAMPLE MARIAH CAREY WOULD USE FOR FANTASY LIKE A DECADE BEFORE.THE THIRD TRACK USES A WEIRD ROBOT FILTER AND IS GREAT.THE FOURTH TRACK IS A NICE SONG ABOUT HOW WE SHOULD BE NICE BECAUSE THERES A LOT OF BAD THINGS GOING ON IN THE WORLD BUT THE THING IS THAT ONE OF THE RAPPERS IS A MURDER SO THAT KINDA RUINS THE WHOLE SONG.THE FIFTH SONG IS A WEIRD SONG ABOUT HOW THEY DREAM TO MEET STEVIE WONDER?!?THE SIXTH SONG IS A RANDOM LOVE SONG WITH A RANDOM PART ABOUT HOW GREAT GOD IS?!?THE LAST SONG IS THE MESSAGE WHICH IS A CLASSIC I HAD HEARD BEFORE BUT NOT IN FULL.THE RAPS ARE SO PRIMITIVE I LOVE IT.THE BEATS ARE SO GOOD THOUGH ITS CRAZY.
this album is insanely frickin fun
Sweet album that shows some of the very first steps hip hop was about to undertake and grow to. There’s a great flow throughout the songs, some songs had me smiling, others gave me the stank face. Just great stuff! 8,5 out of 10
Iconic
Wasn’t able to find the entire album but the few songs I did were sooooo fun. Amaze. Legendary. I can’t believe how many things I’ve heard sampled before. This is the beginning!!!
This site just gets better & better!
That's a classic if I've ever heard one...
This was a delight. I knew it was good, but I forgot how much it was sampled in modern hip hop
Holy cow, this is a big one. Old school hip hop before old school hip hop, truly foundational stuff. These guys were pioneers, I think one of the original groups of guys who would perform and battle at parties. It's incredible how much this genre has grown from the early days. Somehow this album feels more alive and timely than a lot of other old school hip hip albums, namely stuff like Run DMC or some Beastie Boys work, and I think it's because of the presence of genuine funk and dance-y grooves. So even though the lyricism has been infinitely surpassed in the realm of hip hop, the tunes are still fantastic. There's the excellent sample on "It's Nasty," which would be sampled later by Mariah Carey for "Fantasy." Plus the final track is a medley of sorts, sampling songs like "Good Times," Rapture" and "Another One Bites the Dust." Very cool DJ showcase. And, of course, the title track is incredible. "It's like a jungle sometimes, it makes me wonder I keep from going under." Pretty conscious stuff from such an early group. Almost every song on here grabbed me in some way, and yeah I can't help but give this a five star, it's just so strong. Some great albums lately, let's keep it going. Favorite tracks: The Message, It's Nasty, Scorpio, honestly everything but "Dreamin" got saved. Album art: Pretty simple "band" photo, nothing crazy of note. The neon looking font is decent. 5/5
Ok this is genetically engineered to make me like it. If you love your mother break in She's Fresh is hysterical. Scorpio I don't love as much. Its cool mix of humor, funk, proto hip hop, RNB.
Added to my music after listening, I previously only knew The Message but the whole album is great. It’s A Shame hits so hard even 40+ years later.
So "Fresh"! I was amazed by how full of life and present everything on this album sounded. It was like a missing puzzle piece in my understanding of musical history. Made me want to dance; I don't ask for much more.
So I really did not expect to love this as much as I did but goddamn is every song just a bop. This thing is such a mixed bag of genres but they’re each pulled off so well and beautifully. Love the tribute to Stevie and many of the lyrics are in his style as well so it makes perfect sense. Killer album! 9/10
Deserves to be on this list. So many familiar tones, riffs, and beats that clearly inspired later artists and samples.
Fantastiskt album. Kändes som ett stevie wonder med rap verser.
I don't dance, but this album had me moving right from the start. It chills out in the middle, a decent break before the classic "The Message". A real flashback for me, I was 10 years old when this came out (I've never listened to the whole album before) and I recall having a breakdance obsession around this time. The most amazing thing to me is how fresh this still sounds. I'm usually disappointed when I dig up music that I liked when I was a kid, but this is fantastic! I didn't realize what I've been missing all this time. I'm not sure if I'm going to actually listen to this that often, but once in a while for fun... I'm definitely grateful that I heard this before I died though.
Absolute fire! Energetic, intelligent, thought-provoking, pop and groove.
Absolute classic 👍
Already in collection, absolute masterpiece of proto-hiphop.
Classic hip hop albums some of the most influential and important tracks of the 80s kickstarted a lot of rappers careers )
It's the originator of so much. Electro, proto rap, and I wasn't expecting the soul side so much. It also has the birth of conscious hip hop with the Message and it's less successful follow ups. And early turntablism with the Adventures of Grandmaster Flash. More importantly, it does all of this whole being great fun (except maybe a few outdated lines which scan quite homophobic these days). It's rare that an album which changes the course of music is this goody and fun.
In 1982, this record was released, and was proved to be very influential on many artists that followed. Flash and the Furious Five have made their music still hold up today with great, funky beats and masterful songwriting in tracks such as "It's Nasty and the ever-so influential "The Message". Although tracks such as "Dreamin'" really don't fit the flow of the album well-enough, despite being good songs IMO. Overall, "The Message" still continues to prove its relevance and influence today, making it a great record.
great
This is a ton of fun! Great music. Fun lyrics. Refreshing next to a lot of other hip hop and rap we’ve heard on this project. And how sweet is “Dreamin’”?! This album has me smiling!
Absolutely magnificent. Covers so many genres brilliantly.
Fresh, funky and just plain cool. Brilliant album
Loved this album! Very fun and has a lot of style. I preferred the more upbeat songs to the ballads, but overall I really enjoyed it.
Dreamin' is so city pop! Very pleasant to listen to!
Crucial addition to hip hop that generates a very specific set of samples, as well as using a specific set of strong samples. Surprisingly laid back and R&B heavy.
FUNK VERDADEIRO
The influence that this album had not only on so many rappers but music in general can’t be understated! Come for the beats and stay for the content. This is a lecture for your ears and your mind!
Seminal recording and a fascinating listen, I'm struck by how it spans the gaps between hip hop and disco, rap and soul. Much more than just the title track, and the references (both sampled and implicit) are layered in with skill, humor, and insight. This is not my genre of preference (so I'm sure I'm missing things), but this record seems the clarion call for a huge swath of contemporary music that followed. The rapping may be dated, but the record certainly isn't. The first title says it best - she's fresh!
Scorpio track giving me Daft Punk vibes. The second half the album felt much slower than the first few songs
dit is genieten hé, zeker een classic - Scorpio en the message is top
So so good! Every song has such a catchy riff. Is there a movie where the protagonists start dancing uncontrollably? Maybe Beetlejuice? That's what this record does to me - just unconsciously bopping along
If you don't like this, you don't have a pulse. Also, when you realize that it basically launched the rap genre, then you have to give it a 5.
Hell yea
A lot different than I thought it would be based on the couple of songs I knew from it. I say that in the best possible way
Grandmaster Flash- he eats gems and spits them out in song. This whole album could be just the message song and still get 5. Can see big influence for Outkast
Very fresh!
Funky beats that say let loose and have fun, with lyrics that say everything's fucked. I'm grooving somberly
feels like i just stumbled upon ancient artifacts. Either a high 3 or a low 4.
Nice to listen to the songs that get sampled. I love my mother!
Juste pour LA chanson.
Very fun and refreshing. I enjoyed it.
The last two songs are both absolute legends. The rest is... fine.
This was the variation i needed. Great instrumentals in a gerne i wouldnt check normally. Amazing discovery. Almost a 5/5 its so close but a little too dated.
Corny AF but enjoyable. One of the grandfathers of rap. Many of the samples used are laced with funk and disco which give it some much needed spice. The lyricism is pretty mediocre, but Flash at least tries to talk about important topics in an easily understandable way. The simple lyrics and rhyming schemes make sense for the time as rappers used to be hypemen at parties. A few songs I will revisit, or atleast look up the sample off. On this list with good reason, but very dated. 7.5/10
This album cannot be described any other way than just fun. The combination of disco, funk and (proto) rap fits really well. It feels like a party from start to finish.
An incredibly eclectic mixture that sounds like it’s dated, futuristic and everything in between. I really did enjoy this trounce through hip hop history. Very fun, with some detours for odd Stevie wonder impressions and cutting commentary on the world at the time.
++: She's Fresh, It's a Shame (Mt. Airy Groove), Dreamin', You Are, The Message +: It's Nasty, Scorpio 8,8/10
Very indicative of 80s hip hop, must be very influential on run DMC, very similar rapping styles. Feels like a transitional album and a sound still finding it's feet but I thought it was a lot of fun. The beats are great but not much to glean from the lyrics apart from a general vibe. Not going to become a favourite but wouldn't mind a track or two every now and again. 3.5.
Great stuff and obviously influenced a lot of later rap.
A great listen and a special document of a time and place. I can understand why hip hop fans hear this as undeveloped (or just plain uncool), these were artists at the cutting edge still figuring out what a "hip hop album" would sound like. But I kinda love its rawness. It's nice to hear how hip hop grew out of, and overlapped with, funk, r&b, disco, rock, electro, and other styles. Also, much respect to the musicians who made this record (people like Reggie Griffin) who are the behind-the-scenes pioneers of hip hop music.
What an amazing hip-hop album. Made me remember how positive and fun rap could be. It's Nasty and the title track were standouts.
An album like this is an absolutely essential one to include on lists like these, or any list chronicling popular music. It's the perfect bridge between disco, R&B and the eventual biggest genre in the world for a time, hip hop. The first half of this starts with some absolute belters and really does feel like an actual block party common to this era. We have some of the first instances of performers calling themselves MCs on this album as well. There's some surprising variety on this first half, where the 4 tracks move from a disco groove to a more straight-ahead R&B song, to an electronic robot warp in "Scorpio," back to a mid-tempo R&B groove. That last one is a little much with its over-the-top chimes and belted "lots of men are DYING"! It stays in the same vague ballpark but each song is different enough to give you a good idea of its versatility. Things keep going on the more subdued second side, where we're treated to 2 Stevie Wonder-style ballads. It was at this point that I figured out one of the weak points of this album: most of the songs are fairly unfocused, and with so many voices trying to bring this singular album together, a substantial part of the album is off-beat, off-key and sort of struggles to pick back up after a cue is missed. I guess that was sort of the point, and I must say, it makes the album feel very inviting and, frankly, more human. I just wish it was a little more polished before being pressed. The ballads are such a huge whiplash it feels like we've gone from an outdoor block party to some theatre to see Prince play only his greatest love songs... After all that though we get the true blue reason The Message is the record of record when it comes to the early years of hip hop. The title track is a Voyager record-worthy track that transcends so many of the myriad barriers of its time, from that iconic synth line to the return of rapped performances, absent since the first half, the use of sampled speech in the bridge, and even still in the absolutely perfect groove that wouldn't really bother me if it looped for a half-hour. This song alone is worth the price of admission and it's perfect in every way. My final assessment after listening to this is that about half of this album is absolutely essential while the other half is easily expendable. A strange sort of combination for a one of a kind sort of album. Key Tracks: She's Fresh, Scorpio, The Message
Liked it!
Favorite track: The Message
carried hard by how incredible the title track is
Quality early 80s electro funk with early rapping from the original mixmaster himself. I was not expecting the R&B jams on what I expected to be a full rap album. That was a surprise.
Klassikko hipiti hopiti -levy. Aika perus huttua, levyn nimikko/päätöskappale kruunaa jo muutenkin menevän lätyn. Ei varmaan tuu kovin usein kuunneltua, mutta kyllähän sen mielellään kuunteli.
Class if only for The Message.
i dream of stevie wonder too
Good album.
Some parts aged better than others (see: “Scorpio”) but beyond the occasional cheesy sound effect or corny lyric, so much of this album is completely innovative, and the songs are laden with so much purpose. I really enjoyed the brief foray into traditional soul songs with “Dreamin’” and “You Are.”
Never listened to the album and couldn't believe how R&B and how musical it is 3.6
+1 for the influence. The early hiphop is what really stands out. 4/5
Oh yeah. If only hip hop could have stayed this fun, loose, and diverse. This album manages to include a little bit of everything: the song that uses a sample of a Tom Tom club song ("It's Nasty"), a robot-voiced dance song ("Scorpio"), a song worshiping Stevie Wonder ("Dreamin'"), to a dark song about urban and social decay ("The Message"). They were pioneers and, yeah, it sounds pretty dated, but its a hell of a lot of fun. And it's got a great album cover to boot.
One for the oldheads, some truly old school hip hop. Not only is this pioneering in the genre, it's also deeply fuckin weird. It randomly dips into proto electronic, sounding like prehistoric Daft Punk with Scorpio, then flails into Stevie Wonder worship on Dreamin and gets preachy on You Are. And I'm here for it - I totally get worshipping Stevie Wonder. The Message is obviously the (suddenly super dark) centerpiece here, but I enjoyed it all. All over the place, funky and fun.
I was not expecting much but this ended up being awesome. The Message is as relevant today as it was in 1982. I loved the electronics elements.
Surprisingly good
Really enjoyed this. Funky beat, fun lyrics and just a general good time.
Classic Scorpio erg leuk Ofc the message
Would not buy
He felt silly in his tracksuit, but it didn’t matter now. No one was home. The gold chain rested cold against Jimmy’s neck. He fiddled with it for a moment, nearly distracted and lost in thought. After closing the garage door, Jimmy laid a large piece of cardboard across the cold concrete floor, salvaged from the box of a recently purchased refrigerator. It covered the oil stains left by the family’s 1974 Buick LeSabre, though the car itself was gone for the evening. His parents were attending their church’s weekly Bible study, and for the next few hours, he had the house to himself. The palms of Jimmy’s hands grew clammy. Cold sweat trickled down the back of his neck. Jimmy sprinted back upstairs and returned with his Sanyo boombox. He slipped in the cassette of The Message, pressed play, and cranked the volume knob as far as it would go. The machine clicked loudly, then hissed to life. He started with a few pops and locks—the only breakdancing move Jimmy could perform with any confidence. Soon, though, he began attempting the moves he had watched his friends do so effortlessly: the Indian Step, the Bronx Rock, the Side Step. As the cassette reached the end of Side 1, there was a loud pop, and Jimmy was jolted from his solo dance trance. He walked over to his trusty Sanyo boombox, ejected the tape, flipped it to Side 2, and pressed play once more. The next two songs were slower, like unexpected hip-hop ballads. Jimmy tilted his head and stared at the stereo in confusion. Deflated, he stepped forward and pressed fast-forward, listening intently as the tape whirred ahead. The cassette belonged to his best friend, and he needed to return it tomorrow. Respooling a tape could be done, but it wasn’t easy. He hit stop, then pressed play again. A soft hiss filled the garage. Then the title track began. Without warning, Jimmy dropped to the floor. His chest heaved. Sweat beaded across his brow. He was out of breath, but he refused to stop. As Jimmy spun wildly across the cardboard, the garage door suddenly rumbled to life. The door rose, and he was caught in the headlights of his parents’ car. Jimmy’s eyes widened. Slowly, he climbed to his feet. He turned off the music, folded the cardboard in half—careful not to smear motor oil on his tracksuit—and lifted the boombox by its handle. Head lowered, Jimmy slipped back into the house. Now everyone knew. And that is the power of The Message—music so irresistible that, for a few glorious minutes, embarrassment ceases to exist.
Growing up in the 80's, the early hip-hop music was in full court press. Breakdancing was all the rage and I heard this many times while at the skate rink. This induces a deep sense of nostalgia and genuinely put a smile on my face this morning. I was only around 9 when this was released, so my worldview then was extremely narrow but I have always had the sense that music in the 80s was more widely listened to by everyone. It didn't seem like there were clear divisions between genres and there were fewer musical "cliques." I remember listening to hip-hop, rock, oldies, etc... This is hip-hop before gangster rap. This is music about life and society and just having a great time. It's infectious and totally enjoyable until you get to the Stevie Wonder tribute song and its follow up track. That pulls the e-brake so hard that with only one well known track to follow it, you never recover.
It’s a banger but the 2 R&B songs in the middle felt out of place
gut
4.25
There's old school hip-hop, from Run-DMC to Rakim & Kool G Rap, & then there's the really old school: Whodini, Sugar Hill Gang, Grandmaster Flash. It's not only a matter of appreciating the pioneering acts that has me loving this record - the music has to be good, I don't care how influential it is. It's the fact that, from another perspective, this is the best musical about New York City this side of West Side Story. You can call it cinematic, but that's not exactly right. It's more like choreographed insight into social reality, & I don't just mean the classic title track. W/ the exception of 'Dreamin',' their odd but touching tribute to Stevie Wonder, & 'You Are,' a random, gospel-inspired track, every song here adds to a pretty deep conception of NYC.
Want expecting the mix of genre so I liked it
Great album. Wasn’t massively fussed on Scorpio which stopped it from getting a full five Top Track - It’s Nasty (Genius Of Love)
Classic - it’s not one I’d really listen to again but I appreciate it in the context of music history
You can’t hate this. The biggest issue is that back then every hip hop song took 4 to 6 business days to finish. WRAP IT UP FELLAS
Good rap yes
Grandmaster Flash, Sugar Hill, Nueva York... las catacumbas del Hip-Hop. Esenciales, únicos y tan fugaces como geniales. Es raro un álbum de rap cuando entonces lo que primaba eran los sencillos y las remezclas, pero este sí tuvo éxito de ventas y crítica. It´s nasty a lomos del Genius of love (el video... en fin... Los Village People del rap). It's a Shame (Mt. Airy Groove) lo hace con los Spinners (el tema es de Stevie Wonder) Scorpio es electro que recuerda a Planet Rock de Afrika Bambaata, también de ese año 82. Dreamin´ con evidentes influencias de EW&F y You Are, son baladas que conducen a la joya del disco y una de las mejores canciones de Hip-Hop de la historia: The Message. Hay otros temas en posteriores ediciones: Message II (Survival) (feat. Melle Mel & Duke Bootee) que suena a lo que serán los primeros Pet Shop Boys o New York, New York (12" Version) que lo hace muy parecido a The Breaks de Kurtis Blow.
More interesting than I expected. I'm most familiar with The Message (the song) which feels pretty dated in 2026. It's easy to see how it's foundational, but I expected it all to feel as dated as The Message (the song). It isn't. With some exceptions. There's a lot to like here and not just in a nostalgic way.
I haven't listened to this album start to finish, but I'm looking forward to it. Yeah, this is _solid_.
This is probably the most inconsistent album I've ever heard in terms of formula and material, not quality. The first two songs are funky hip-hop gold, and then immediately following are two fun but empty songs that tend to drag a bit longer than they should. Then there's two soul songs straight from the heart which are beautiful. Then the legendary title track plays, which I think is great but just a little too long than it should be. Lastly, the closing track is sample mania with, from what I heard, like 6 samples at once. It's very wacky, it's very fun, but a strange listen. I'll bump it to a 4 cause of dreaming, which is one of the best unserious songs I've ever heard.
Synth powered soul, funk, and rap, really great.
This was great, especially the title track!
Delightfully funky and fun with more variation than I had expected. It’s like a love letter to the history of Black music preceding it and a preview of what was to come.
Another crash course in sampling history! Now I know where Lindy West gets that drop. Anyway, legend, obvs.
What a classic album. 'The Message' is so iconic and influential.
This album is pure fun. It's like hanging out with old friends who happen to be super talented and have a lot to say. They celebrate themselves, their music, and even shout out women and Stevie Wonder. Each track feels fresh, a snapshot of the early 80s funk scene. Spins: 3 Playlist Additions - It's Nasty - Scorpio - The Message - New York, New York
I think these ratings boil down to generational gaps. I hear "Scorpio" and immediately want to put on my roller skates or imagine Ozone breaking it down. Does it sound dated? Absolutely. And I am here for it.
Funky and quite fun
31/03/2026 It was enjoyable enough to warrant 4 stars. Well done. On to the next one. Spotify listeners: 542.9k
The music is awesome, and I appreciate the honesty of the vignettes, but between the Christian themes and some of the lyrical choices, I ended up a little uncomfortable by the end in a way I did not appreciate
I had been writing and editing a visceral and gross piece of poetry all day; I listened to this album to take a break from that work. The Message immediately puts it's best foot forward, hitting me with incredinly funky horn sections and basslines, with group chant vocals characteristic of similar disco-tinged hip-hop groups. The production and sample work is a main highlight, especially the prominent sample of Tom Tom Club's Genius of Love (which I primarily recognized from its other use in Mariah Carey's Fantasy). By the time the robot vocals kick in during Scorpio, it's clear that the production was willing to take whatever risks it wanted to ins service of an even greater level of funk. There is a bit of a dip in the middle, with Dreamin' being a little too schlocky and saccharine for my taste, and the sudden turn into Jesus praise during You Are completely floored me; another album might have been more heavily dragged down by this lull, but the rest of the album is so damn infectious that it managed to keep itself afloat, ending on the incredibly strong closer, The Message. (Plus, while I don't consider it part of the album proper, the sample-heavy bonus song is incredibly experimental in a way I've never heard in a studio recording; it sounds like someone recorded a DJ set, and I mean that as high praise). Despite some hiccups, the highs of this album have burrowed into my brain; I wish I got even more of that sound throughout the rest of this project. Highlights: She's Fresh, It's Nasty, Scorpio, The Message (The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash on the Wheel of Steel)
So fucking corny and cheesy it's brilliant. Not that this has aged all that well, but man this is a funky good time. Who else is gonna write an R&B song based on a Stevie Wonder song and end that same album with the most foundational rap song ever? There's so many fun twists and turns here, it's an absolute hoot.
I don’t know where to start with this one. GMF&5 were pioneers in the early days of rap and hip-hop. This album is milestone in that evolution for sure. I remember so many things about this album and the time period. My sisters had the 12” extended cut of “It’s Nasty”, “Scorpio” was a frequent spin at the roller rink, and “The Message” may be one of the all time “classics” of rap music. This one deserves a high mark for “the message” and overall impact alone, but I’ll stop short of a top rating since it drags a little in the middle. Props for incorporating a kazoo.
Люблю цей альбом, є на вінілі. Я загалом не те щоб фанат хіп-хопа 80х, але грандмастер флеш це виключення, та і однойменний трек це така класика, що аж Філ Коллінс ріпофнув сміх в пісню дженезіс Mama. 3.5, але тут поставлю 4.
If this isnt the definition of a classic then i don't know what it. A seminal album that is the hight point in the birth of a genre. The samples are so familiar its like an old photo and it still slaps on most levels. The weird Stevie Wonder track aside, this definitely needs to be listened to before you die
8/10 - Unfortunately the full album wasn't available on Spotify or Youtube but the 4 songs I heard were definitely up there. The Message especially is a classic
very groovy, such a pleasant surprise. Includes a full on gospel song mid-album
it was fun! pioneer of the genre and overall a fun listen. didnt appreciate them edging me for almost 7 minutes with another one bites the dust
Really cool to see a point in time of funk crossing over into hip hop, and seeing so many tracks that ended up being sampled endlessly.
This was a fun listen
Fun time, good beats, really fun to say "oh hey, I know that sample".
At that time in music history a 4 Star performance
This album makes me happy. I dig it.
This album’s got way more going on than just the title track. The vibe is classic early hip hop, raw and simple, but it still feels sharp, especially when it leans into storytelling and personality instead of just party stuff. “Scorpio” was a really cool track, that one stuck out for me, and “Dreamin’” cracked me up. I did not have a love song dedicated to Stevie Wonder on my bingo card for yesterday lol.
Вайбово. Такой хип-хоп меня не утомляет. The Message - глыба. Хоть я и не разбираюсь в такой музыке, и не помню точно в какой из 360 песен я слышал этот сэмпл, но точно слышал, и не раз. Он как будто уже вписан в глобальный ДНК. Наверно так же себя ощущают люди, которые вообще не слушают рок, и услышали Living on a prayer или Highway to hell - типа "я это точно где-то слышал сто раз, но не помню где, звучити как культовая вещь". Вообще дух 80х в такой музыке мне очень нравится, даже чел с магнитолой на обложке добавляет баллов этой атмосфере. Было неожиданно услышать пару треков в совсем не типичном стиле типа Dreamin', но ок, звучало тоже неплохо. Ждем Sugarhill Gang?
Пошли артефакты. Нравится как этот сэмпл tom tom club кочует из песни в песню.
приятный фанкрэп
Идеальный альбом для воскресной уборки. Мало, что знаю о раннем хип-хопе, но от некоторых электронных треков повеяло Kraftwerk, что не может не радовать. Также отмечу текст трека New York, New York - фильм «Сокровище» с Габи Сидибе нервно курит в сторонке. Добавлено в плей-лист: Scorpio, Message II (Survival), You are, New York New York
Why did I always imagine they were a two singles act? This was great. I liked the ballads too because it shows how tentative those first steps were for rap. Also Stevie deserves any tribute going.
Awesome vibe
Fun Old Skool East Coast Hip Hop. Dope samples, danceable grooves.
Soo much fun, tracks 1 &. 2 are amazing
Funky as hell at the start, bit of a slump in the middle but pretty solid
Great old school rap album! I love finding where other artists get their samples from! Lol 🤣
Fun album, paved the way for a lot of what was to come. Iconic tracks sampled in many future hits.
piacevole da ascoltare, ma sembrava più una compilation e la canzione robotica scorpio mi ha fatto venire mal di testa, anche se l’idea era figa
Excellent piece of Rap history!
Much more funk and RnB than I expected. Terrible couple of middle songs and it gets kinda corny in parts, but damn most of these songs are still great listens. The Message is worth a star alone. I'm kind of a sucker for early analog synths so I actually loved Scorpio and the general production of this album. Love the ending track too and how all the samples bleed together.
She's Fresh - What an absolute banger to begin, this song is so fun and eccentric. It's a great tone setter, my guess is that this will be a feel good, head-bopping, and very unserious album. The overall message from this song so far is she's fresh, get fresh, Love ya mother and dance like a fool. Again, incredibly fun and an amazing punchy, fruity instrumental It's Nasty (Genius of Love) - Classic! The instrumental is immediately recognisable. I just can't help but smile. If what they're saying is true, that contemporary society condemned their music, society must have been miserable. There's some nice bars in this song too, definitely feeling inspired as most have in the past. Scorpio - Completely different vibe, like a Dalek getting freaky to some drums and techno and I'm here for it. The drums are nasty on this song, couldn't help but stank face. Getting really strong images of them mixing this in this studio and it's really hard to pick up on a discernible genre, it just feels good. What it lacks in lyricism, it makes up for in just pure funk tenfold. It's a Shame (Mt. Airy Groove) - Getting a lot more RnB, Soul vibes from this and is definitely my favourite so far. Again, the message is obvious but then again may have been profound in a time of under-representation and a collective consciousness of prejudice. Definitely my favourite so far, I feel like I know the chorus after half a listen and the vocals are incredible in the adlibs throughout the chrouses. A pretty fucking great song. Dreamin' - At first, I was skeptical, the first 10-20 seconds or so had shaky vocals and quite a thin instrumental but it really picks up and completely proved me wrong, this song is cohesive, soulful to the point I feel like I'm floating. I'm not envious of Stevie Wonder because of his musical talent or extensive success but because this song was written for him, somebody better make a song for me like this because it's beautiful. You Are - By far my absolute favourite, this song has the magic of a childhood imagination and the maturity of adult love. I don;t subscribe to the ideas of Christianity but this song is a reminder of how beautiful the impacts of religion can be. The orchestra in the background is indescribably beautiful. This group are multi genre hit makers with a deep understanding and passion for not just the music they create but music as a whole. The Message - Extended Version - Again, a absolute banger, considering I've always considered hip-hop from this time as lyrically adolescent due to the relative lyrical talent we have now like JID or anyone from the Dreamville label but I was gladly proved wrong, as throughout the rhyme schemes and flows were incredibly impressive, I will never underestimate old school hip-hop ever again. The cadence of these artists is their biggest technical strength in my opinion, so much confidence in their message really articulates an authentic experience of struggle. Message 2 (Survival) - I've never heard an instrumental like this, I'm just absolutely blown away by how multi-faceted this group is, the furthest I ever went back was N.W.A's Straight Outta Compton and I never knew what I was missing out on. The message is more profound with this song and is about how the progression of capitalism has caused communities to descend into individuals who develop their own survival tactics to cope with everyday stresses caused by society and the people they once belonged to a collective with. Definitely the most conscious so far. New York, New York - The guitars on this song are instantly captivating, I was under the impression run DMC were the first to incorporate elements of rock into hip-hop but, again, I'm pleasantly proved wrong. This song has such a strange dynamic, the instrumental is so fast paced and encourages me to dance but the lyrics depict such a depressing and brutal reality. I admire their ability to express such hardship through what seems to be such a different tool. The Adventures of Grandmaster Himself - Sounds almost exactly like J DIlla record, and I fucking love it. What an amazing mix, it's an organised chaos with so many distinguishable elements that work so cohesively. There's literal farts followed by laughing children and I couldn't help but bop my head all the way throughout, they could mix a hospital toilet and it would still be a banger. Overal Thoughts - At the start I thought this would be an unserious feel good disco-hip-hop album but one song after another I would be proven wrong in a different way. This album was such an enjoyable listen. It was conscious, soulful, brutal, beautiful, feel-good and just plain incredible.
Lotta horns Peak bass work
Really enjoyed the funk-backed tracks. The love song to Stevie Wonder was a bit over the top, but there were some real insights to be found throughout. Overall 3.75/5 would definitely listen again
Some tunes. Simpsons: Yes
Hip hop tracks = absolute 5s Soul tracks = mediocre 2s Average 3.5, upped to a 4 because the single 'The Message' was one of my first hip hop loves.
A very solid listen. Certainly it’s “dated”, but it’s also easy to see how it’s so influential, especially the title track. Most tracks are closer to disco than I expected and I didn’t hate it.
In my personal (bad) opinion, hip hop didn't get good until Rakim. But 4 stars for the history and the had to be there sort of thing going on here.
Great album to start 2026! Very funky, had a lot of fun with this one.
A lot of this isn't quite hip-hop. But the the standout is, of course The Message. So what the hell happened to rap/hip-hop after this? Ah yes it got taken over by the foul mouthed whining tossers from da hood. So sad. 3½
Lots of good music hear. Some did not resonate, but even as an OG rap album it still had a fresh quality to it.
Great sounding and feels like it's way before its time.
This album deserves a 5 for its historical significance. It's listenability over 40 years later is another thing entirely. It's fine, but nothing noteworthy by today's standards. I'm thinking of a 4 after considering all of the above.
Cool
Pull up to the unction we're genuinely enjoying this album and soaking in it's fun, infectious energy. These guys escape some of the entrapments that come with how corny rap from this era sounds all thanks to how into it they clearly are. So much character in their deliveries, fun little innuendoes and some great instrumental ideas for their time. "Scorpio" had to be a genuine club BANGER for it's time. Can't argue with their homage to Stevie Wonder on "Dreamin'". He really is the greatest. Maybe I'm a sucker for artists overt tributes to their heroes, but this was a highlight. Then "You Are" came on, and continued to widen the emotional scope of this relatively brief project. I will have to ding this thing a bit, "It's Nasty" and "The Message" are wholly repetitive. Not horrible, but they're functionally so similar. Anyways, the sampling on the closing "Wheel Of Steel" is steller. I'm not sure how they were doing it back then or with what hardware (just turntables and maybe an 8 track recorder or something?), but it's a lovely ode to sampling that holds up to this day. Sleeper 4 for sure. Probably overlooked in the zeitgeist of great albums from the 80's
this is really great except for the techno ish one. and fantastic band name
Ground zero for the rap explosion. Scott Hauser and I had it on cassette. Fun Stuff
REP ALBUM NAPOKON 1982, mnogo je bitan bio dj tad, MC-evi (reperi) su sluzili uglavnom kao hajpmeni i hip hop je bio vise dance oriented, ovo je jedan od albuma koji je zapoceo promenu, nije savrsen realno je 7/10 ALI THE MESSAGE (PESMA) goated jedna od najboljih pesama ikada, zapocela conscious rap trend, i komentarisanje drustva blabla najsemplovanija pesma ikada tipa
Just one song I didn’t like. Diving into the Wikipedia’s of the Furious Five was fun
Pretty nice rap album, good vibes. 4 stars
I knew they were creative samplers but I did not expect this. This was great. Really enjoyed it on first listen.
Grandmaster Flash is such a cool dude. I went to a presentation where he showed how he created his sound. This album is the epitome of that. It sounds dated, sure, but it's still great. I'm fascinated by "Dreamin," which sounds more like an Anri song than anything American. Super important album, and deserves a listen.
“The Message” is of course an early hip-hop classic, and socially conscious to boot. I’ve waited 40 years plus to hear this whole album. It’s a bit of a gem, showcasing many different styles on this tight album that bridges the ‘70s and ‘80s, including funk jams with full instruments, soul numbers that consciously pay homage to Stevie, a fantastic early electro track in “Scorpio” and of course The Message. The guys can sing and rap (in that sweet, unsophisticated rhyme structure of the very early 80s.)
Day711 - things i learned listening to this : sylvia robinson was a genius, keef cowboy and kool moe dee aren’t the same person even though they sound identical , dreamin and you are shouldn’t be on this album
A foundational, classic record. Set the stage for the hip-hop wave that followed, and still did it better than most. Just a great album. The Message is still the same 40+ years later.
Well, now I know what a " fag hag" is.
Love this album and the message is such an iconic rap love , literally a master of his craft
Two of the songs on here are songs I know but never remember the names of, so I enjoyed re-learning them again and am sure I will forget them again. Solid and fun short album, meaningful, important, etc etc
Does this sound horrible with 2025 ears? Maybe. But I love this shit because there was no blueprint for this type of music back then. They were just vibing and creating based off of limited inspirations at the time and they came out with classic records so I can’t be mad that every track doesn’t sound as good 40 years later.
This was a lot more funkadelicy than I anticipated. Lots of very famous beats, in cases more famous elsewhere, but still this is a good time. 4/5
Classic foundational rap!
If they removed Scorpio from the album it's an easy 5 stars
Just a bit of fun. Not taking itself seriously. I like that sort of thing. I quite liked it, but it not really something for the regular.
Hyvät bassot ja pari aika legendaarista biisiä. Laitetaan nelonen sen suuremmin analysoimatta
Funk is born.
Lowkey really good vibes very enjoyable
Precious and wonderfully produced hip-hop album
Twas' pretty good, hip-hop is new to me, and it was pretty fresh and a good introduction. Didn't finish all the songs, unfortunately.
Funky
Had been a while since listening to this album, unquestionably one Hip Hop's earliest classics and had forgotten how little rapping there is. And yet the incredibly creative production show's the album to be a defining precursor to more rap centric hip hop rather than just another disco album. Every listen of the standout title track still reminds me why it is one of hip hop's most quintessential blue prints.
Impressive. Im surprised by the staying power of this. I recognized 3 or 4 tracks instantly - shes fresh, its nasty and the message Sound wise, it feels like Earth Wind And Fire with a set of new percussive tools. I personally dig the group effect of having a ton of rap styles thrown at you. 3.5 stars and rounding up
Some of these lyrics are so bad they’re good. The music and sampling is legitimately fun - has a bit of a Kendrick vibe at times, lyrics aside of course. Arrangements and overall funkiness saved this, like it a lot more than the other cheesy 80s rap we’ve heard.
8/10
Spending an entire song glazing Stevie Wonder is absurd. I guess those Lebron song parodies had some historical merit. The Message is a classic that hits on some good lyrical themes and the production throughout the whole album is funky and danceable. This early 80’s hip hop just hasn’t aged all the best in comparison to more modern stuff. Still fun though, and any time a song samples Genius of Love it is most appreciated.
cinematic portrait of black street life She's fresh It's nasty Scorpio
Unfortunately I am very susceptible to the “my name is X and I’m here to say” style of rapping
Favorite Track: The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash on the Wheels of Steel
so dope what the helly
Only fun is allowed!
This doesn’t feel like a full album it has a couple slow ballads grafted onto some of the great rap/electronic songs of the 80s.
Bien aimé ça, du bon early rap. Un peu « uneven » avec la chanson un peu electro Scorpio et les 2 chansons RnB sirupeuses avant la chanson titre. Mais les tounes de rap un peu de party étaient très entraînantes!
Well, that was a bit of a surprise. Obviously, I remember "The Message", but the rest of the album was a surprise. Some Kraftwerk-adjacent stuff (Scorpio), some soul (Dreamin') and some repurposed Genius of Love (It's Nasty.) Well worth a listen.
Not a new one for me and I always had a soft spot for a lot of old school rap/hip-hop. The song The Message is an enduring classic for a good reason. While it’s not something I necessarily gravitate to, overall the album is a solid 8/10.
A little cheesy, super fun/funky though. Probably essential
Pretty fun and corny album. Reading up about Grandmaster Flash was a good time too! Overall this has aged a little better than some early hip hop (looking at you Run DMC) and The Message is an all time classic track. Not the worst listening experience I’ve had because of this list!
Innovative. Wanted to hear again.
Classic hip hop with a little funk. As I was listening I kept thinking to myself that this group probably influenced so many current groups because the sound is so familiar
4.75*
funky, early rap. Really enjoyed it but probably works better as an EP
Apart from You Are which was a dud the album is a downright classic. Fantastic tunes, groovy dance vibe and I’m not sure many can resist the chorus of The Message. Bloody loved this.
Early 80s hip hop. Debut. Sounds more like funk than hip hop. Very groovy and old school. Loads of recognisable samples. Very influential.
Really enjoyed it! Didn't expect the style of Dreamin or You Are. The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash on the Wheels of Steel reminded me heavily of his live performance I saw many years ago at a festival. Brilliant stuff. And of course The Message is just iconic.
The hip hop on this is good enough to forgive them for the attempts at soul on a couple tracks.
Not sure if they are sincere or not, but this fun album kept my attention. 3.5
Such a fun album and concept. I know that it’s the basis for hip hop to come, but it’s hard to see it anything other than a funk/soul album. It’s so playful and captivating, no wonder it took over the world.
Nice insight to hip hop as it was just getting off the grand. Of course, the stuff is dated but respected for what it would eventually become not even 10 short years later. It was also an interesting because it almost seemed like a mix of hip hop and R&B somewhere in the middle. I enjoyed it despite its age. 7/10
Great fun, easy listening. 4 Stars.
I was quite excited. Gearing up for some old skool (yep, I spelt it that way on purpose) hip-hop with funky overtones. There was plenty of funky overtones, by the way. The bass slapped pretty consistently throughout the album. The raps were a bit of fun. The first song talked about honouring your mother (but also the girl being super attractive too, I'm guessing not the mother?). There was a song about Stevie Wonder... And an ode to Jesus at one point. But, then it got dark. It painted a picture of a real miserable recession. And I have to say, that really hit me where I live. I was really taken in by all of it. So, was it fun? Or was it a hard listen? I'd like to think I could take it depending on how the mood suits, perhaps that's why it resonated with me at points. 4 Stars (some of the hiphop elements haven't aged as well as other albums on this list).
When I first saw "The Message" as my first album in journey through Black music, I thought it was going to sound like Kurtis Blow on disco tracks. I did not expect beautiful singing & yacht rock instrumentals. To be fair, it was only two tracks, but it is a more diverse album than I expected. I enjoyed most of the tracks from "It's Nasty" & "The Message" to "It's A Shame" & "Dreamin". Every song is at least 4 minutes long with two 7 minute tracks in a row at the end. This gives the tracks space in between verses & lets the instrumentals shine. The only major gripe I have with this album is that the rappers aren't credited well, especially for someone who doesn't know the members of the Furious Five. I would have to give this album an 81/100.
“Don’t push me ‘cause I’m close to the edge.” Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five’s The Message changed everything. It’s a 44-minute time capsule of 1982. Loud, funky, and fed up. You can trace a straight line from it to everyone from Public Enemy to Daft Punk. Even Duran Duran tried to copy its cool. It’s Nasty, but She’s Fresh. It’s like a jungle sometimes… and it still makes you wonder how an album can be at once so of the time and timeless.
I think I like old school rap because you can usually sing along to it. It’s about as far from mumble rap as possible.
One of the originals and still the best.
A few masterpieces and some meh
the longevity of this album through samples and instrumentals is pretty impressive. an album that took rap from braggadocios hooks to a gritty representation of black street life that emits rap's struggles to justify the album format. meanwhile, the funky basslines, drum-machine beats, and flourishing synth melodies make the album feel timeless in a fun way.
A really good album, I liked She's Fresh and It's a Shame the most.
Goofy at times (Stevie!), incredibly serious at times…and just fun to listen to.
Yep
Fun but suuuper dated.
I loved this album. I loved the hip hop beats!
Title song is pure bliss, cool lore behind this group and very good first album.
Surprisingly funky. I expected more of an early hip-hop feel like De La Soul or Kid and Play, but this was much more of an R&B/Soul album than that.
Ooh that was Funky !
Not what I was expecting, but a fun listen
Has some weird detours, but also some absolute classics, and hugely important.
Absolute history. There’s a lot more R&B in this album than I knew, since I was just familiar with The Message. It was a nice surprise.
This album is all over the place. In a good way. Compared to it's contemporaries it stays fresh throughout. The Stevie Wonder song is something though.... Creepy.
The Good: I am not close to the edge… The Bad: I might still be going under… The Ugly: Still wondering about that Stevie W song… Ahhh, the joys of OG hip-hop. I remember seeing Beat Street in the theatre, and trying my best to learn some of the dances… to be young again… Obviously I knew the song The Message, but not the album. And I did my best to just listen to the original album, as 1 hour+ is a little too much for a Monday morning. Having said that, what a difference this is versus what the west-coast started shelling out via NWA et al. Going against the grain on this one and will dish out a 4* to our OG’s…
I did not expect to enjoy this album as much as I did. Plain classic hip hop fun (minus the eponymous song, an all-time social consciousness classic), great samples, funny jokes, and an overall great vibe.
empieza con todo y no está ese tema n spoti
Wow I enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would. It’s a shame really caught my attention lyrically, which I’ve expressed in other reviews that I don’t always notice the lyrics. The hip hop/electronic influence in the production is clear. This was fresh!!!
que delicia de album!!!!!!!!! uma mistura disco, funk, eletro e hip hop só podia dar muito bom mesmo. tentada a dar um 5, mas por enquanto vou ficar no 4,5.
Favorite songs: The Message, It's Nasty (Genius of Love), She's Fresh, Scorpio, "New York, New York" Least favorite songs: It's a Shame (Mt. Airy Groove), Dreamin' 4/5
That classic formative hip hop. This stands up better than others form the era with some very strong mixing going on.
Message!
this music is SO fun
I rated this album 7.6 out of 10. I've never been the biggest fan of old-school hip-hop, but this was a fun album. I was familiar with some of the songs, like "The Message" and "Scorpio," but the rest were all new to me. I think my main gripe with the album was the length of some of the songs. While not the longest album I've listened to or even the longest songs I've listened to, I felt as if the songs tended to drag on further than they needed to. The rest of the album was enjoyable, and while I don't see myself coming back to it all the time, I do understand the importance the album has had on music and its genre.
So your telling me a grandmaster flashed these five? I didn’t realize that Mr. flash was the DJ to five other dudes who did all the singing/rapping but then went on to be way more famous than any of them. My favorite song was the one where they wanted to fuck the eyesight back into Stevie Wonder. 7/10
There is definitely some big dick energy, as well as music for the playas out there. If it wasn't for the middle of the album, it would get the full five stars. Favorite Track: "The Message".
Is this just one song? Anyways it's a great song!
16/1089 She’s Fresh is an extremely fun opening track and feels like a very distilled version of 80s hip hop listening to this in 2025 really feels like i’m listening to a time capsule of a specific moment in music and it still sounds cool, dated in an unapologetic way which makes for a great listen It’s a Shame is a highlight so far for me i think. i love the outro loop Dreamin’ is a really nice change of pace, with some really lovely vocals and instrumentation. there are moments in here that feel very influential and that i’ve heard paid homage to in music i love THIS is The Message?! okayyy i love this and wasn’t expecting it to be on this album. The Message II is also really great i’ve loved listening to this project and i really didn’t know that i would. it manages to be dated but also sound fresh (at least taking into account it’s era) 4 stars or 81/100 faves: The Message II, The Message and Dreamin’ least fave: You Are (and i think it mostly just suffered from coming after Dreamin’ which has a similar vibe but better)
I liked this album a lot. If I recall correctly, GF&TFF were early pioneers to use turntables to manipulate sounds like scratching, and it's cool to hear this at an early stage on this record. But they are bringing a lot more than just being pioneers on this front. They have a lot of great grooves and the commentary is excellent throughout. The song dedicated to Stevie Wonder - Dreaming - was an interesting departure from a lot of the rest of the album. Cool song. The piano and singing on You Are was awesome, really complimented each other. The highlight here is definitely the title track. The Message is a great song, powerful in its message. Loved the way the rap changed rhythms throughout. I know this has been sampled a bunch of times, but beyond this it's been very influential in setting a new direction for rap. A truly important song in the annals of music. And for that reason, this album is a must hear for anyone. Really great.
ES MI MOMENTO PARA RECOMENDAR UNA PEDAZO SERIE: THE GET DOWN HIHIJEIEIEJEIEJKEJE dj grandmaster os lo agradecerá
This was a lot of fun. Bedrock of early hip hop. Gets off to a great start. Bit of always sunny beat with genius of love. The message is a classic. Would be a cert 5 if not for a couple of mishits (full synth Scorpio)
Nice blend of R&B and early rap.
Whiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiite Liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiines. Oh no, wait, NOT that one. Oh, OK. Still pretty jazzy and funky. I will trust others judgement on the seismic importance of this one.
Funky fun rap that wasn't awful to listen to. 4/5
NORTH DAKOTA MENTIONED 5 STARS (but -1 star for mentioning North Dakota)
A lot more melodic and soulful than I was expecting. The electro-funk influences I expected were there, but a lot of it is directly descended from Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye.
This album feels like 1982 is reaching forward into 2025 to give me a long-lost childhood hug. There is something so comforting about these tight beats and great samples that harkens back to a simpler time. The nostalgia is much needed.
The beginning of hip hop. Classic beats that have used for so many other modern songs!
Sometimes, you have to just accept that something is great, unabashed fun, and there's no point trying to be too clever or analytical about it. This is one of those times.
Decent start, weak middle, excellent finish. For historical importance I'm gonna bump it up to 4, because it undeniably should be on this list.
This album feels like a party.