The Message

The Message was hugely influential, and I like it from a nostalgia perspective, but at the same time….cringey

Solid ass album!

Me gusta este funk

I actually loved this - really made my day. The only thing is, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five should be 6 people in total and there's 7 guys in the album cover, it really bugs me so it looses a star.

Very fun tracks, varied too. The Stevie Wonder tribute song is hilarious. Raps are occasionally TOO simplistic but all round a fun album!

Essential rap that is good 4/5

Great early hip-hop. From the samples to the lyrics it all works!

Flashy

A grand album. The rare case where a single track, "Scorpio" holds the entire thing back. It was a novelty for the time but now it is too much so becomes annoying. The rest is grand though!

Goofy album I couldn't help smiling at. This is the kind of album that your uncle would toss on to explain how "rap nowadays is all mumbling, this is REAL hip hop". It's hilarious man, just look at the album cover! Hip hop history! I also like the demonstration that they're just as capable as making soft and sweet melodies like you'd expect of that era with 'Dreamin' and 'You Are'. 'The Message' is one of the catchiest songs of all time and I'll die on that hill.

Beaucoup aimé ce mélange de hip-hop classique et de r&b, particulièrement la chanson titre et Scorpio, qui m’a semblé préfigurer les courants qu’emprunterait la musique électronique

This album has held up to the test of time.

Did not expect the soul hits! Incredible early rap so awesome

FIIIIIRE! Who knew the creator of the first rap song ever also made an ode to Stevie wonder on the same album. Great stuff.

It is interesting to see the influence disco and that type of music has on the early development of rap. Overall liked the disco vibe it brought.

Another album which is important to have on the list because of sheer influence. The title track is amazing and most of the rest is pretty good, with a couple of weaker tunes (Scorpio). Quite different to what I expected in places, especially with the two soul tracks included as well, although I still quite enjoyed them despite the lyrics being a bit weak there

Debut album. Funk / Hip Hop. This is an important album and a huge step forward for Rap / Hip Hop. The beats and tech used were crazy for 1982. The track Scorpio is a good example of this. A grounbreaking album. Dreamin' has great vocals. The track - The Message is an all time brilliant tune. Great beats and lyrics. Ahead of it's time.

Charmingly earnest in places, some really "modern" sounding moments that made me realize how influential this record is. The dj mashup at this end is so great, and so is the message. There is a sample of a song called "Mt airy groove" by a Philly sigma sound group, pieces of a dream

Some of the coolest sounds of the decade- can’t argue with you there. But I have to ask, what’s with the elongated love song to Stevie? Such a bizarre tone breaker and kinda ways down the entire album for me but I’m also not going to sit here and say that I didn’t have a ton of fun listening either.

Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five's was not what I expected, at all. I expected an early hip hop album--and it was, but it was much more than that! They incorporated lots of electronic sounds with funk and soul, and that sure made for a fun, upbeat album. "The Message" is iconic for its lyrics and how it showcases the early hip hop genre, but more than that, I loved how much it stood out on the album. Maybe more than that, I loved that they also proved they can sing beautiful, slower songs. A lot of artists can't rap and sing well. And "Dreamin'" was an adorable ode to Stevie Wonder to boot while displaying their vocal chops. The sampling of "Genius of Love" on "It's Nasty" was fun and fresh, but also showed how much this band enjoyed playing with electronic, something many hip hop artists don't do.

This goes haaaarrrrrd solid 4/5 up in here

Some ICONIC beats

Very decent pioneer of rap. Some absolute bangers on this album but some filler as well. 4/5.

A compilation? Seriously, on this list? Sure, this is a solid compilation, but it’s not an album. This seriously throws into question the value of this project. Some of these songs don’t appear on any other album, but this was not an album intended for release as a cohesive project. Compilations should not be on this list.

Having been born in 1981, I might be in a unique position among the majority of the userbase here, in that by the time I was 6 or 7, I have memories of the golden age of hip-hop and how radical and new it was in comparison to contemporary culture. Granted, I was not cognizant of this record when it was released, but stylistically, it’s the springboard for the hip-hop that I have early memories of as child. Even the clothing and style…looking at the cover of this record brings back vivid memories of going to my grandparents house in West New York, New Jersey as a kid and seeing people walking down the streets with boomboxes on their shoulders. Because of that, I’m going to have a nostalgic bias towards this record. It’s a cornerstone of hip-hop. I mean, I was a little taken aback listening today by how it is really sort of a hybrid r&b/funk album and only a couple of tracks are what we’d consider hip-hop, but I can’t deny its influence.

Really funky and old school. Songs get a bit repetitive

Pretty sick album. The rapping is outdated, but It's Nasty, The Message, and The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash On The Wheels of Steel are all really cool. I don't think it's the best funk or hip hop, but it's a pretty great crossroad. Hope these boys met Stevie Wonder eventually.

Great album, only down spot for me was "Scorpio", it got a little tedious. Maybe I just wasn't in the right mood for it. Loved all the other songs, though.

i actually really vibed with this. very funky, very groovy. i forgot to take notes while listening but i do remember enjoying everything. “dreamin’” was the perfect r&b/soul song ngl. i appreciated its homage to stevie wonder. also, the last tune, “the adventures of grandmaster flash on the wheels of steel” was SO long and i loved it. the bass line was giving “another one bites the dust” by queen. apparently this was intentional because they full on sampled the EXACT instrumental (you know the one) from “another one bites the dust” around halfway through the song. i wish you could’ve seen my reaction because it went CRAZY. i really did like this. 4/5.

ciekawe to

Very early rap had always been a bit of a grey area for me, I obviously heard the rapper's delight song, but it always felt totally separated from any later 80s rap I'd heard. This does feel separated, but not really for the same reason, as I think this is extremely unique, and this style totally went extinct. I love the synths, which pretty much make up all of the beats. I prefer this a lot more than the run D.M.C thing from the other day where the samples can be a bit dodgy. This obviously also has a lot of comparisons to disco stuff, but also some weird other similarities, like the synth beats making some parts sound exactly like Kraftwerk. The sprinkles of guitar (both disco-type and rock n' roll type) are refreshing. The rapping in early stuff kinda sometimes feels like they're rapping over the beat (like in some of the run DMC ones) but this feels quite integrated, also the multiple people makes it not too boring. Also best not forget to mention what a breakthrough this must have been in terms of political commentary, as I guess they (and this album) basically invented ''conscious rap'', with the social issues which are brought up in here. Not too keen on the weird ode to Stevie Wonder, jut thematically, I came here for a rap album. Favourite songs: She's fresh, It's nasty (genius of love), Scorpio, the message, message II, New York, New York. The adventures of Grandmaster himself. Overall around 8/10

Oh, to be transported back in time when "fresh" was the top adjective for fly, dope, hot, etc. This is good fun to listen and it stands up better than many other genre-defining records. The high energy and fun spirit is strong. One always forgets if the Tom Tom Club provided or stole the riff on "It's Nasty." And obvioulsly the "je m'appele Melle Mel" explains hip-hop's popularity in France. One's pretty sure one didn't know what to do about "Scorpio" when on high school dance floors. The love song to Stevie Wonder works, if weirdly (with bonus R&B vibes [and what a bassline]). And the samples of Blondie and Chic and Queen upset or overturn one's sense of time and sequencing – where they added to a remaster? The title cut is classic, genre-defining (or genre-birthing), the first example of hip-hop being a newslike report from the front lines, with the "huh-uh-huh-uh-uh" is the genesis of a hip-hop convention. This is an historical artifact and very much not a relic.

why not

Wow. This is amazing for the time that it was created. I could give a shit about the Stevie Wonder track, but I was mildly elated to connect that white mackle more rapper guy's Downtown with the albums first track. Also, sifting through 'whosampled.com' after hearing some De La Soul (pass the plugs / peas) on the album was mildly entertaining. https://www.whosampled.com/Grandmaster-Flash/The-Message/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGhoLcsr8GA

Heard a lot of songs that were used in modern samples. Cool album, and a fun listen.

Super fun, another example of an album I wouldn’t seek on my own but so glad it got suggested

This album is hip-hop at its finest. It’s an incredible mix of funk and soul, with lyrics that remain just as relevant today as they were upon release. Every track has something to offer, making for a compelling and timeless listen. I absolutely loved every song on this album—except Scorpio. Even the two unexpected soul tracks in the middle, which seem to pay tribute to Stevie Wonder, were a pleasant surprise despite their different tone compared to the rest of the album. Favourite Songs: The Message and It’s a Shame are absolute standouts. Least Favourite Song: Scorpio felt a bit out of place—like something from a spoof Doctor Who soundtrack. Album Artwork: I love the cover; it perfectly captures the essence of the era.

3.75

It'sLikeAJungleSometimesItMakesMeWonderHowIKeepFromGoingUnder Great lyrics in this groundbreaking album. Liked Songs Added: The Message

It's all great and funky but not really an album in my opinion. Love it, but I can't really give it a 5. It's 5 songs, sure it's 35 minutes, but that is the barest of minimums for an album. Even spotify doesn't seem to think it's an album.

That was fun

Objectively great for it's era and such a groundbreaker.

I dig it but that Stevie Wonder song was kinda weird.

Funky AS HELL

## In-Depth Review of *The Message* by Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five Released in 1982, *The Message* by Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five stands as one of the most influential albums in hip-hop history. It marked a turning point for the genre by introducing socially conscious themes and storytelling into rap music, shifting its focus from party anthems to poignant commentary on urban life. Below is a detailed review of the album, covering its lyrics, music, production, themes, influence, and an evaluation of its strengths and weaknesses. --- ### **Lyrics** The lyrics of *The Message* are its most defining feature. The title track, written primarily by Duke Bootee and Melle Mel, paints a vivid and harrowing picture of inner-city struggles. Lines like “Don’t push me ’cause I’m close to the edge” encapsulate the frustration and desperation felt by individuals living in poverty-stricken environments[1][2]. The song delves into themes such as crime, unemployment, systemic oppression, and mental health issues, culminating in a tragic narrative where the protagonist succumbs to suicide in prison[2]. Other tracks on the album explore lighter topics, such as partying and relationships, but none match the gravity of "The Message." For instance, songs like "She's Fresh" focus on romantic attraction with playful lyricism[5]. While these tracks showcase versatility, they lack the depth and resonance of the title track. --- ### **Music** Musically, *The Message* blends various genres into a cohesive soundscape. The title track's beat is slow and pulsating, creating a noir-like atmosphere that complements its stark lyrical content[1]. Influences from funk, disco, electro, and dub are evident throughout the album. Tracks like "Scorpio" stand out for their innovative use of early electronic sounds and synthesizers[3][5]. However, some songs lean heavily into R&B or gospel influences ("Dreamin'" and "You Are"), which feel disconnected from the rest of the album's tone. This eclectic mix can be both a strength and a weakness—it showcases versatility but sometimes disrupts the album's cohesiveness[5]. --- ### **Production** Produced by Sylvia Robinson at Sugar Hill Records, *The Message* features crisp production that was groundbreaking for its time. The instrumentation on the title track is sparse yet impactful, allowing the lyrics to take center stage[1]. Robinson's ability to blend diverse musical elements—funky basslines, electronic effects, and rhythmic beats—helped establish hip-hop's potential as a genre capable of addressing serious topics. However, some critics have noted that parts of the album feel like filler material designed to capitalize on the success of its singles[3]. Tracks such as "You Are" lack the polish and innovation seen in "The Message," detracting from the overall experience. --- ### **Themes** The central theme of *The Message* is social commentary. The title track addresses systemic issues such as poverty, crime, racial inequality, and urban decay with unflinching honesty[1][2]. It serves as both a critique of societal structures and a call for awareness. Other songs explore themes like love ("She's Fresh") and escapism through partying ("It's Nasty"), providing moments of levity amidst heavier subject matter[5]. While these lighter tracks offer variety, they can feel out of place given the weighty tone set by "The Message." --- ### **Influence** *The Message* is widely regarded as one of hip-hop's foundational works. It shifted rap's focus from DJ-centric performances to lyric-driven storytelling, paving the way for socially conscious artists like Public Enemy and KRS-One[1][4]. Its impact can be heard in countless songs that followed—both in terms of lyrical depth and musical experimentation. Moreover, tracks like "Scorpio" influenced early electro music while establishing hip-hop's ability to incorporate diverse sounds[3][5]. The album also inspired modern artists across genres; its beats have been sampled extensively in hip-hop classics like Ice Cube’s “Check Yo Self”[5]. --- ### **Pros** 1. **Groundbreaking Lyrics:** The title track’s vivid storytelling and social commentary were revolutionary for hip-hop. 2. **Innovative Production:** Sparse yet impactful instrumentation allowed lyrics to shine while incorporating diverse musical styles. 3. **Cultural Impact:** *The Message* redefined hip-hop as a platform for addressing societal issues. 4. **Versatility:** Tracks range from socially conscious narratives to party anthems and experimental sounds. 5. **Timelessness:** The themes addressed remain relevant today. --- ### **Cons** 1. **Inconsistent Quality:** Some tracks feel like filler material compared to standout songs like “The Message” or “Scorpio.” 2. **Disjointed Tone:** The mix of serious themes with lighter party tracks disrupts cohesion. 3. **Limited Group Contribution:** Despite being credited to Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five, much of the work was driven by Duke Bootee and Melle Mel; Flash himself had minimal involvement in creating "The Message"[4]. 4. **Outdated Elements:** While innovative at its release, certain production choices may feel dated to modern listeners. --- ### **Conclusion** *The Message* is an essential album in hip-hop history that transcends its flaws through its cultural significance. While not every track matches the brilliance of its title song or experimental highlights like "Scorpio," the album remains a powerful time capsule of early 1980s urban America. Its influence on subsequent generations cannot be overstated—whether through its socially conscious lyrics or innovative production techniques. Ultimately, *The Message* is both a masterpiece and an imperfect artifact of its time. It deserves recognition not only for what it achieved but also for how it shaped hip-hop’s evolution into a genre capable of addressing complex realities while entertaining listeners worldwide.

Kedvenc/Favourite: She's Fresh Nagyon élveztem ezt az albumot, funky volt, fun, könnyen hallgatható. Elteszem későbbre is, látom magam olyan hangulatban, amikor szívesen táncikálok majd rá. Nem veszik magukat túl komolyan, és ez jól is áll nekik. I really enjoyed this album, it was funky, fun, easy to listen to. I will save it for later, I can see myself in the mood for dancing to it. They don't take themselves too seriously and it suits them well.

That was epic! I only ever heard the track the message. Finally hearing the rest of the album was a treat

Fun album. Not my cup of tea but I can definitely hear why this album is on this list. Sounds groundbreaking for the time. But honestly I had no idea if there were similar bands from the early 80s. As this being the year 82, I didn't imagine there would be an album like this from that era. Like this kind of hip hop-funk crossover. 4 stars couse it features a sample of Queen (Another Bites the Dust). My favorite band in the World.

Love it! I can see Nancy Regan saying "Won't you please think of the children!" Its come a long way from here!

Radosna, melodyjna i dość mało rapowa. Fajnie słuchać podwalin tego, co mamy teraz. Raczej do niej nie wrócę, ale kilka kawałków naprawdę wpadało w ucho. Nawijka była dobra, a sample ciekawe. 7/10

There were a couple of misses on this album (Scorpio and Dreamin). She's Fresh and It's Nasty felt like it just kept going and could have had a little more substance but they did make me want to dance. Overall it was a good album and a good mix of funk, hip hop and rap. It really starts the evolution to 90's rap, which makes the samples and lines used by current rappers more important. Calling out one song, New York, New York...this one had some really important points like poverty and impact on people in the city. Also the difference between the extreme wealth vs. poor, and mental health impacting people. It did loose me a little when we talked about the wife leaving the husband or the transgender community. How is it we can all get so easily distracted by what the real problem with poverty is and create scapegoats (women, transgender) instead of looking at the big issues.

The Message alone is worth four stars.

Good album, though couple of tracks don’t feel like they belong here (Dreamin’ and You Are). The rest are great though.

Some solid hip-hop! The Message is a classic. That melody on It's Nasty sure is familiar!

I dig it.

This album is super fun. It's a nice mix of celebrating their music and themselves, addressing societal/cultural issues, and even honoring women (and also Stevie Wonder)! All in a funky fresh, totally early 80s way, and every song sounded different. Great listen!

Dammmmn this was an album completely dof then what i listened to but i loved it Super good oldies r&b

Blind album and artist. This album was super fun to listen and hear. I absolutely love this era of hip-hop with the turntables and sampling creativity, and it is definitely a great listen.

The Furious Five - my own nickname for Len’s wives 11-15! They were a right angry bunch! No wonder he didn’t make it to wives 16! 4.0

Surprisingly great piece of 80’s hip hop. I honestly thought everything before 1989 would have been corny beyond repair but this was fantastic.

I want to first to lavish Doug Wimbish, eventually of the band Living Colour, who plays bass across this 1982 album. I also want to point out how much 80s funk, R&B, soul, and even gospel exists on this album between Scorpio, considered among the greatest early electro tracks, and The Message, considered among the greatest early hip hip tracks. There's also this cheesy but somehow incredible platonic love song to Stevie Wonder, Dreamin', followed by a gospel song, You Are. I just love that the album is so thoroughly Black, that the musicians and various producers and programmers are exploring an expanded pallette of styles, and that it all sort of works.

Such a solid album

Loved this album so much more than I thought I would! Thanks, 1001albumsgenerator.com !!

Surprised by the handful of R&B songs that were more cheesy than good. But the classics hold up, and the samples are legend.

Wow, on est beaucoup plus proche des plus grands albums funk que du hip-hop de dépanneur! L’utilisation minimal de sampling instrumental et de drum loop et la présence d’un incroyable bassiste dans le groupe donne énormément de groove et de profondeur à la musique, qui déborde de fun. Honnêtement, avec une couple de réécoute, ça mériterait une place dans les 5 étoiles.

Well now - this is distinctly NOT country diner! Thank you, algorithm, for the palate cleanser! Only 7 tracks, but what an array! Title track is a classic and a clear standout. For 1982, Scorpion was totally rad. And then, mixed in between some old skool rap and a gospel ballad, there's Dreamin'... talk about an awkward man crush - but I still can't say I hated it!

Loved this. There were a couple of duds that will hold me back from giving it a 5. I did appreciate how every song felt like it had its own mood. Lots of fun. I will revisit this.

The Message is an all-timer. The rest isn’t nearly as great but there’s still some fun to be had. The Stevie Wonder track was good and a funny homage. You Are is so similar though, and I have to ask, why are there two Stevie Wonder songs?

Fun

The album that birthed a thousand genres. Was going to give it a 2 for my genuine likeability (there's a lot of singing!, not historical significance, until I heard Wheel of Steel. Holy shit. Pure hip-hop. Frenetic, futuristic, poppy and experimental at the same time. Mind-blowing to think of how influential it is.

Interesting album! I liked it for the uniqueness!

cool. would like to relisten

Well, not every record starts a new genre (or milestone-validates the existence of same), so there's that. And it's apparent that the invention and energy that's a hallmark of hip-hop was there from Day 1. The excess, too. The R&B inflections (the love song dedication to Stevie Wonder) is surprising, and the gospel nods and new wave-adjacent synths are also notable listening decades out. While this record is like the equivalent of the Battle of Hastings in terms of musical history, it's still worthwhile musically – indeed, quite interesting and enjoyable and substantive, too – and very much worth listening to.

4*s. Good tunes

This starts a little slow, but overall an amazing album. Crazy to think about what this was and what it inspired when it was first released.

As all over the place as this album was, from Herbie Hancock adjacent synth weirdness to Stevie worship, I actually enjoyed it quite a bit. Love all of the great bass lines. 3.5/5

So happy my headphones didn't connect on the train to work and then my phone froze and this was blasting out for many more seconds than you'd hope. But it was good fun! A nice variation of blues, rap, ballad. Warm and full of life

I generally like Grandmaster Flash and the Message is a banging tune, as well as some of his other 'hits' but I did find the album as a whole to be a bit repetitive and not that exciting. But overall he's a great DJ and culturally he has had a huge impact on his genre, quite a legend.

"The Message" is a slightly frustrating record for me. It's very dated but a hell of a lot of fun. Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five demonstrate what was happening in music when soul and funk were merging into early hip hop. The electro subgenre never really took off, but the marriage of rap and electronic music in the early years was really interesting and there are some great examples here, like "Scorpio" and "The Message". The frustrating thing for me is that they couldn't commit to it fully. The attempts at soulful ballads are fairly boring in comparison and the album could have been a lot stronger without them, albeit a bit short. A few lull points aside, I love this album. The lyrics are mostly positive (aside from a very unfortunate homophobic remark). That album cover is locked into a very particular time and place, but I don't care. It's great.

So much fun to listen to. I recognized some sounds from other songs -- like the talking heads one that goes "I'm in Heaven." I saved a few tracks. It reminded me of "Colt 45" with the call and response type singing.

I was not ready for how diverse this album would sound - som street disco, a serenade to Stevie Wonder, a political dig at the prison system, a gospel ballad and a choir of kazoos just to name a few. Oh and some pretty cool samples. Pleasantly surprised!

It's a 3.5 for me, I really appreciate the mixing in the first few tracks. Not a massive fan of early hiphop but thinking about the work and precision that went into cutting samples back then baffles me. It's a shame the album fades into a ballad album with a weird homage track to Stevie Wonder else it could have pushed a 5 star from me!

Diversity

Really nice album. I enjoyed that travel to days of old-school hip-hop when it still had many common things with funk.

This one was better than I thought it would be

Pretty fun album. The title track is by far the best, but all the more electro-synth funk-old school hip hop tracks are cool. The Stevie Wonder ballads are pretty blehhh though. 3.5/5

Wow, I hadn't realized how many of these I already knew.

Pleasant surprise from a hip-hop album. It had a few great moments, especially with the electro infulences and the great basslines.

This one is very influential for Hip Hop. The title track for this album is iconic to say the least, it’s one of the best parts of the project (aside from a certain line in that song). There’s also some nice funk and soul influences here. The first two songs are probably the best examples of this, they’re catchy and fun to listen to. Most of this album is nice and fun to listen to! It’s rather short and doesn’t really overstay its welcome. Its lyrics are actually pretty cool, the main example being the title track. Its performances are pretty good as well! You can tell they were having fun making this. That being said, I think some tracks are rather weak. Scorpio is a bit weird, even for me. This album has its faults, but it still has a few good songs to be found. It’s pretty nice for the most part.

The Message is a classic song of course, and Scorpio is a great electro track. A few other songs are less special, so this is not a 5-star album for me.. but I can see why it is included in this list (even though my vote would have been for Jam on Revenge or Escape).

clearly inspirational and foundational for hip hop. Also a damn good album.

It's Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. The godfathers of modern rap. It's hard to go wrong with this.

4.0

p486. 486. 4 stars. Not a fan of hip-hop/rap, but this hits a sweet spot. It's dated well, doesn't outstay its welcome and contains one stone cold classic in the title track. Point deducted for the worrying homoerotic "tribute" to Steve Wonder.

This is a great album. It covers early rap with the signature turntable scratching as well as R&B and Soul. This caught me off guard with how good it was.

Now this is a classic. It's fun, it's reflective, and it's more than the regular hip-hop-hip-hip-hoppity of this genre of hip hop (no shame to the Sugarhill Gang).

I'll tell you what: all hip hop albuns should sound like that!

Enjoyed this, some classics on there

I liked the soul stuff it used to build on top of

Haven't listened to this in quite a while. It's a bit dated, but holds up pretty well and has obviously had a major influence on hip hop since it was released. Fantastic sampling and instrumentals. "Dreamin'" and "You Are" are pretty terrible though.

Sick Favs: It’s nasty Scorpio Dreamin The message 😳😳😳😳🔥🔥🔥🔥🫶🫶

I enjoyed this a lot Standout tracks: - She's Fresh 5/5 - The Message 5/5

Classic.

Old School Hip Hop is always a ton of fun. Really had a great time re-visiting this and everything about that has been so ingrained in hip hop since it came out.

This is the Genesis of rap and hip-hop for me. I haven't heard this album in 20 years and had forgotten just how good and fresh it really was, it managed to convey the social issues at the time without having to drop into a plethora of bad language and antagonistic Rhetoric, Only reason I didn't give her a 5 out of 5 because some of the tracks on the album are a little weak and maybe don't fit with the message that was being conveyed by this album

Favorite Track: The Message

Great album, glad to listen to it. The Message was a nice surprise to end the album. I had heard the song plenty of times but had no idea what it was called, who the artist was, or anything about the musical group. Listening also helped me note another nod in Hamilton to foundational hip hop. It's A Shame was a depressing but realistic look at the problems in our world. Still as relevant today as it was 40 years ago...

Starts as a funk and R&B album and ends the album with three hard tracks pioneering the birth of conscious rap. The music is good, and the lyrics are fantastic. 4/5!

Like Run-DMC they are the foundation of rap and hip hop to come. Never heard any songs on this before besides the title track and that was probably a shortened radio edit version. Has 3 bangers and a couple weird slow-jams that I thought were being an ironic joke but I guess in 1982 (the year of my birth ugh) this was serious. Gains the 4th star for 'The Message' and it's influence

Classic old-school hip-hop.

9.5/10. Early hip hop is so fun!!!!! The beats and vocals were both great. I would love to join the crew in the album cover. :)

Great early hiphop. Plenty of groove, funk and actually interesting lyrics.

Really fun album. One of the foundations of rap. Honestly not as Corby as I feel it gets called sometimes. See killer beats that still hold up too

Never heard of these guys. But I sure love the early 80s hip hop sound. Yeah this is good stuff! creepin up to 5...4 stars.

This album is a bit different than I was expecting, mainly because of the soulful ballad You Are that comes toward the end of the album. It's a primitive version of hip-hop to be sure, but it's honestly more mature than I was expecting. Grandmaster Flash was already establishing advanced mixing techniques by this point, and the team of rappers he assembled was second to none at this point. Much of the sampling would not fly today, but it was how things were done at the time 4/5 A true early hip-hop masterpiece

Wayyyyyy good, I like the intermixing of proper soul/funk, with some foundational hip hop tracks. I think they knew they had something, but a full hip hop album was not ready to be accepted yet

I'm not a fan of rap. Me enjoying this album quite a lot might come down to how little of it is actually rap by current standards. There is more funk on here than actual rap, and good amounts of soul and pop music too. These elements are often really well done (such as the Stevie Wonder inspired track) and blend together very well. Rating this 3.5 stars but rounding it up because it was an unexpectedly positive listening experience to me.

Liked it way better than I thought I would but it's so repetitive that it would be hard to listen much more

Super fun, groovy, not too serious. Not a huge fan of scorpio.

The album was nice, not awesome, but it was the beginning of a musical genre and kept the funk roots of the predecessors that this was built on. I thought it was average and would listen again, but not in the regular rotation. I give it a bonus start for the historical nature of the album.

Down for some 70s funk. this is going to be lovely to listen to. I can only imagine what this was like when first released in the 70s.

Great for its time. Weird disco song in the middle messes with the flow of this.

A snapshot of its time—for better and for worse—The Message is delivered loud and clear for all those willing to hear it.

A fun, upbeat album! Knew a few of the songs too, quite enjoyed this one 4 ⭐️

Really good album, and you can hear how it influenced hip hop. “The Message” is iconic. Hadn’t heard much else from them besides the title track, but was overall really impressed. Didn’t care much for “Scorpio” or “You Are” but the rest of the tracks are amazing. This is an album where you can tell from the first few beats of the first song that it belongs on the list.

The only song I didn’t really enjoy was Scorpio. It’s a Shame was probably my favorite.

Liked this quite a bit, even the tracks with no recognizable samples. Surprisingly, I knew of “The Message”, but had never heard of it. Wild that this came out in 1982. The producer on this, Sylvia Robinson, the founder and CEO of Sugarhill Records, had a hit with “Love is Strange” in 1956, a lovely track that had an even lovelier cover version by Everything But The Girl.

The title track and really the whole album are defining examples of early hip hop and Sugarhill Records as a whole, but this is also probably the best electro-funk (or just “electro”) album of all time. The song “The Message” itself is a masterpiece and sets a really high bar of quality. The rest of the album is phenomenal though, with the intense electro of “Scorpio”, the excellent sample of Tom Tom Club’s “Genius of Love” on “It’s Nasty” as examples.

High 4. Loved this one

Unique sound and messages. The love letter to Stevie Wonder is interesting.

Wow, I really might need to look into more 80s R&B? This was such a great time!

the beginning of the hip hop movement.

Was familiar with the title track, and was expecting more of that type of early hip hop, but The Five came out of nowhere with a surprisingly varied mix of funky disco grooves. 4 pairs of platform boots with goldfish in them.

This is definitely a transition album, music evolving in real time. Half this album is basically funk, a few tracks of R&B, one track with electronic dance synth with robot vocals, and three tracks of early hip hop. "It's Nasty" samples the Tom Tom Club, as the group raps over the backing track. "The Message" is the highlight of the album, a true hip hop classic. It was "covered" in the 90s, lyrics altered but overall very similar. Most of the songs are about the troubles of the inner city, trying to bring the situation to light. I don't know if this album brought rap into the mainstream, but it definitely influenced and propelled the next group of rappers in the mid 80s. A historic and groundbreaking album for rap and hip hop

Haha oikeasti viihdyin tämän parissa. Todella funkit taustat, joista yllättäen pidin, ja laulupainotteisempi räppi toimi myös. Ja siis hauskat sanoitukset tietty. Kolme puol ainakin ansaittu niillä! Positiivinen yllätys.

I recognised at least four parts of songs that have been sampled. I enjoyed the drum machine work on this. I also appreciate the old school style of rapping, talking about rough lower class living but with a positive attitude.

Really enjoyable, old school as heck but great beats.

This is good. Original hip hop with a soul and funk vibe. And real life story telling going on here. Not like todays gangster rap nonsense

Ok again it's actually so close to a 5. The song about Stevie Wonder is hilarious and I'm actually obsessed with the robot voice box ballad. Very Kraftwerk.

classic

so fun :3

Nice

The most enjoyable musical history and political culture less than I’ve had in a long time. This album is like a full sample library for half of the hip-hop songs made before 2009. Usually I start listening to these albums on the walk with Milo every morning and I tell you yesterday I was strutting down the street like the opening scene to a Spike Lee joint, only missing a velvet suit, walking cane, and a very large hat with a very large feather in the brim. Smooth, baby.

Funky Fresh

4.5 Seminal Hip-Hop album. If this had not been recorded, music would be different today.

This album is like the definition of short and sweet. Only 8 songs, but they’re all good, and the album exceeded my expectations. I thought it was just going to be a typical 80s Sugarhill Gang-esque hip-hip album, but there was so much more. The Message really brings a message to be heard to the world. I personally enjoy “You Are” and “The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash” the most.

This was an enjoyable listen. When I was a youth I downloaded all the free music I could off of amazon and one of the songs was rappers delight so I have a soft spot for the sugar hill gang. This album feels like an extension of that project. The message is my favorite song and I also enjoyed the message II (survival) that comes out later. This album was danceable and catchy even if it is dragged at points by non hip hop songs that they must've added to fit with the pop music at the time. Fun album expertly crafted.

I would love to know if the sample in “It’s Nasty” is the first known use of that in a hip hop song. I always associate with Mariah Carey but man is that everywhere. “Scorpio” is a good example of a song that does something cool but just overdoes it. The robo voice is cool but it ruins the whole song because it’s too present and too loud over the rest. The lyrical content and styles date the album but for the time period I imagine it was revolutionary. Still a good listen with solid work from all the rappers and producers involved.

Highlights: The Message, Dreamin' Leave Em's: Scorpio Overall Thoughts: Funky & Groovy, this album incorporates lots of the sounds that are familiar to the eighties into an album that spans genres. The songs range from beat heavy with synths to slower rhythmic tracks that maintain fun and intrigue. The explored topics also vary widely from superficial tracks to political activism anthems. This record oozes fun and creativity which made it a compelling listen for me. Score Breakdown: 3.675 & 4 -> 3.84

Surprisingly OK

The title track remains an all-time classic, speaking bluntly about crime and poverty in the inner city, but there’s plenty of other grooves to be enjoyed here too. Definitely more mellow in parts than I expected.

So fresh

Wanders from hip hop through funk to soul. Good fun and variety

Took me a while to find the album - it's a lot different to what I was expecting. More like Jazz funk in places (which I like) but ultimately this was very influential at the time.

I was blessed with another BANGER.

What can I say, another bajan dub 🇧🇧. This was fun and funky so groundbreaking for its time. I liked The Message and the medley at the end

Awesome 80’s funk/rap

What an interesting listen! I expected a rap party album, and at the start, that's what I got. It was fun, cool samples, packed with energy. But then, there was a bizarre, quasi-electronic song. Wow, neat! And then, a lower-key track about dreaming about Stevie Wonder. Okay, cool! The next song, a full-on piano ballad. Alright! I mean, it was all done well -- these are some talented fellas with wide-ranging influences. It just surprised me, is all. A really neat snapshot of the early days of hip-hop, as the genre was still trying to figure out what it was and could be. Lyrically, much more interesting than much of what's being pumped out these days, and musically, it felt like it took some risks -- at least by today's standards. Glad I tracked this one down.

Enjoyable album with probably the most important rap song of all time I. The Message. On another note, I don't know why Spotify gives this album as released in 2010 and has not record of it being released in the 80s. Spotify sucks .

4-

The roots of hip-hop go back farther than a lot of people think. I think it’s just because the sound of the 80s feels nothing like the modern forms of commercial rap people have gotten used to. And the only experience I’ve had with these roots was not positive. So I went into this album cautiously, but I also had more faith that this would be better in many ways. And I was right. This album is actually kind of awesome. This is the sort of music that deserves to be labeled as the origins of hip-hop music. The way it fuses funk with those early sounds is great. I mean, this was back when they still didn’t swear in their music. Times were very different. This album is also very catchy, and if you are at all aware of popular hits in today’s world, you’ve definitely heard It’s Nasty and The Message sampled in big hits before. But honestly they sound way better in their original form here. The musical diversity here is a lot more than I expected. Since I can only assume this was all recorded live, it sounds really good, and there is some serious talent working behind the scenes here. Plus I can respect how this experiments with some more quirky and fun ideas. Dreamin' is basically just a song fully dedicated to Stevie Wonder. And as a tribute to him, it does a surprisingly good job at sounding like something Stevie might have made, with some more 80s flare. You Are is the complete opposite. It’s almost entirely just piano and the singer, and repeats most of the same lines over and over again. But it shocked me with how beautiful it was. This should be regarded as a much better beginning to hip-hop than any Afrika Bambaataa record, simply because it’s much better. Rating: 8/10

Some good funk and early hip hop! Love the samples and the overall vibe on this one! Standout Tracks: It's Nasty, The Message, The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash on the Wheel of Steel

Very historically significant album. Early hip-hop. This was way more soul based than I would’ve thought. Really cool sampling and really funky bass lines. Very influential. Had to give it an extra star based on “The Message” alone.

There was like three songs that I had no idea came from this album. Some of these samples are still being used today. Unreal.

Funkyyyy. Live the song about Stevie Wonder, that guy is being admired his ass off.

Good

A legendary DJ - The Message is one of the best hip hop songs of all time.

Love this record. I've listened to The Message and a few other songs, but never the whole way through. What really stood out to me was how varied the sound is between songs. Some of the songs on this record feel very experimental. Especially, Scorpio or It's Nasty. Scorpio sounds like early Daft Punk, then later Kanye West, which is pretty rad to see that influence. She's Fresh and It's Nasty feel like they're building on Parliament or Funkadelic, but almost feel kind of punk rock. It reminds me of Red Hot Chili Peppers or Bad Bains. And then what about the Stevie Wonder love song?? Dreamin'. WTF is that? Fantastic is what it is. You Are is 100% ripped off by Chance the Rapper, but it totally works when he does it too. The Message is homaged in Hamilton. This record really is the blue print to so much rap and pop music. I think more than anything though, what stands out to me is the political and social elements of the song writing It's a Shame and The Message are sadly just as relevant today as they were in the early 80s, when this record came out. I think that's the biggest legacy of this record. Saying things the way that they are.

Definitely dated, but still solid early hip-hop and electro. A fantastic way to kill 37 minutes.

This album is an 80s hip hop classic. I was already pretty familiar with The Message, but thought that Mariah Carey sampled Tom Tom Club. It turns out that both sampled the song It's Nasty. Wow. I definitely learned something today. 4 stars.

Definitely a great remedy for a blah day. You always hear that this album is what kicked off hip hop and rap music, but I'd never taken the time to sit down and listen to it. It's great.

Solid album. Good rap and super funky. Last song was basically a DJ track but impressive it came out in 82'. I liked the Message a lot. Soft 4 for this album for me

This album has so much going on with the crazy instruments and many different singers. I could really get down with the funk/electronic combo though. It was some hot fire through the first 4 songs but then really slowed down. But ending on The Message, which I knew but did not know it was on this, was awesome. Got some nice old fashioned hip-hop which is what I was expecting the majority of this album to be. That Stevie Wonder glazing song was a bit strange, but it did slap some nasty bass. I feel like this is exactly where Vulfpeck got their motivation to be a band because I could see them doing every single one of these songs.

think we'll ever meet Stevie?

Hip-Hop ground zero. I hear roots of Electro, RnB, Gangsta, Conscious. Scorpio - wicked electro track. One note and a drum machine - that's the way to do it. The Message. Had it on a vinyl compilation called Rap It Up. Formative classic. Lots of feels for this track. Survival Great track.

Groovy! I know the song “The Message” and “White Lines” of course but it never occurred to me to listen to a whole album of Grandmaster Flash before. Great stuff!

Pretty fly. I kept from going under, anyway.

Very classic disco into hiphop!

Everybody knows The Message. The first massively popular rap song to blast out of speakers across the United States. I didn't remember that It's Nasty is on this album, with the very recognizable sample that you'll also hear on hits like Mariah Carey's Fantasy. That being said, the slow jams - Dreamin' and You Are - feel a little out of place on this record and feel like a misstep in the pacing and sequencing of the album. It's a good thing they wrap up strongly with The Message and The Adventures of Grandmaster Flast on the Wheel of Steel. The last track is particularly emblematic of hip-hop, and while it doesn't perfectly capture the energy of a block party, it's a decent representation of how DJs, sampling, and turntablism changed the musical experience forever.

Paar vette nummers, paar saaie, en veel vernieuwende. Ongelofelijk dat dit uit 1982 komt.

Thought I knew what I was going to get here: The Message, and more like it. Nope! This album is actually a bit crazy. It starts with a fairly typical disco-funk song that could have been by Breakwater or Cameo, which surprised me straight off, I was expecting tag-team rapping over 808s and scratching. Straight into the uber-sampled "It's Nasty" as in Tom-Tom Club and Mariah. Then next Scorpio which I don't think I've ever heard before but how not I have no idea as surely this is one of the most prescient things in electro, was totally not ready for that growling 303... so they even influenced Acid. Taking another turn "It's a shame" precedes De La Soul with it's sweet swinging guitar lick lifted from the Spinners song of the same name. OK the next rack can't be any more influential?... Err, no, it's not. Incomprehensibly the next tracks are overly silky gospel soul which sound madly out of place before we finally get to the message. Twelveteen out of ten for schizophrenia. Stupidly important and influential album, but also just mad and disjointed. That was an experience.

Great hip-hop. Enjoyed.

This is completely insane and I can’t begin to know how to rate it

Retrorap, Klassiker und Texte mit Inhalt.

Only people who don't love their mothers could hate this. Classic old school hip hop that you'll think you heard elsewhere because most of it was eventually resampled.

c ca il a dit

This albums slaps. A top tier hip hop album. “You Are”, although a good song, felt really out of place. That’s the only thing keeping it from 5 stars. (4.5)

The Message was one of the first rap songs I ever heard, and it was definitely a contributing factor to me digging this new form of music back in the day! Flash is the DJ all others were measured against, and the Adventures of Flash may sound quite remedial today, but when it came out, was cutting edge (no pun intended)

Scorpio track giving me Daft Punk vibes. The second half the album felt much slower than the first few songs.

Love the old school mixing and sound FX. Creatively ahead of their time.

insane number of iconic samples

The samples that have been taken from this album!!!

Disco groovy . Spoko do tańca

In the archives of Hip-Hop history, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five's 1982 album, "The Message," occupies a pivotal position, representing a seminal moment in the genre's development. Despite its concise seven-track duration (the 2010 expanded version has 11 tracks, with an instrumental version of 'The Message'), the album defies expectations with its remarkable diversity in both musical arrangements and vocal delivery. The initial tracks, echoing the upbeat, disco-infused spirit of the '80s with heavy synths and voice modulations, set the stage for a transformative experience led by the iconic track, "The Message." Undoubtedly ranking among the top three most influential songs in Hip-Hop, this track shattered conventional perceptions of the genre, revealing its potential as a platform for political and social critique, a medium for living poetry, and a resonant voice for the marginalised. Diverging from the typical energetic tempo of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five's repertoire, "The Message" embraces simplicity in instrumentation, providing a stark backdrop for Melle Mel's raw and unapologetic verses. In a succinct six minutes, Melle Mel vividly captures the nuances of urban life, tackling issues ranging from addiction and systemic challenges to sex work, a fractured education system, and racial profiling by law enforcement. The song's unfiltered honesty reverberated universally, demanding the attention of the public. Beyond its status as an instant classic, "The Message" served as a catalyst for the socially charged poetic genre that helped to characterise Contemporary Hip-Hop, laying the foundations for subsequent cultural luminaries such as N.W.A, Tupac, Outkast, Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, Kanye West and more. To truly grasp the roots of Hip-Hop and its transformative impact, revisiting "The Message" is not merely a suggestion for dedicated enthusiasts; it's an imperative exploration of where the genre originated.

A really good one 👍

This album is a great example of what I was signing up for with this project. I had a blast from start to finish.
 P.S. Oh, I love Stevie, too.

L'album qui a changé le rap

Totally fresh and massively underappreciated to someone brought up that drum machines were a total sell out!

Some of this is REALLY good and obviously important to the genre. On the other hand some of this has not aged well and probably wasn't very good to begin with.

This album is good, the mix of rap and soul elements is appealing and chill good listen

8/10

This is just so positive and fun and genuinely old-school-cool. Also always happy to hear some funky ass bass lines and brass solos.

This was great music to lightly doze to

HOLY SHIT. This is one of those albums where I can't understand how I haven't heard it before. This really is the spiritual successor to groups like Parliament/Funkadelic and you can hear them laying out the foundation of early hip hop. The bass lines are absolutely killer on this thing, even though a lot of the lyrics come off as a little goofy, everything just feels extremely cool. The samples they use are phenomenal (think some of them are from that Incredible Bongo Band album?) . Obvious standout here is The Message (this track is absolutely timeless), but there's not a single sleeper track.

Motivational and inspirational. 4 stars.

I like a bit of rap to take me away, and this did the trick.

Hugely influential. There's no denying the impact this album had on hip hop and music in general. It's not perfect and some of it is dated, but the title track is an all time banger and remains relevant today.

Nice hip hop/funk album Top tracks: The Message, The Adventures of Grand Master Flash on the Wheel of Steel

Great

Fun, groovy, funky! Recognized a lot of the sounds from today’s music.

Mmmm The Message la influencia clave en el hip hop. Uff hay unos bajos de los que lo mismo aprendió mucho Flea. Me gustó Scorpio, It's a shame y por supuesto The Message (en mayúsculas).

this record is not on youtube music.

Never heard it straight through before and I liked it. The rap heavy songs are excellent but I didn’t expect so much R&B…it was also good but unexpected, at least for me.

GOOD TIMES!

I enjoyed this album a lot. It had a lot of great energy, and it was fun to hear the original songs that are sampled and interpolated so often, like It’s Nasty and The Message. My least favorite was definitely The Scorpio, but it wasn’t offensively bad. Some of the vibe of this album seems outdated to the point of being campy, like the very simple and annunciated flows and the lyrics on It’s a Shame, but that didn’t hinder my enjoyment. “There are places in our world / Where kids are starving (There are places where kids are starving, baby) / Don't you know they should not starve / 'Cause they're the future” was particularly funny to me. It was also funny that they were so horny for Stevie Wonder on Dreamin’. Overall it was a really good album though.

Yeah this shit bangs

I was expecting this to be a purely hip hop affair, but it's quite a rollercoaster ride, hopping genres all over the place - from funk to electro to r&b ballads to gospel, and yes of course, the primordial ooze from which hip hop evolved is here as well. The song "The Message" is practically a template for the hip hop that would come to dominate in its wake. It's the keystone of modern hip hop, upon which everything else was built. I actually found this album quite impressive in its versatility, and was entertained not knowing exactly what would come next.

Pretty damn influential. Holds up. Great title track! Gotta do at least 3.5.

Just a nice little groove of an album

Birth of hip hop was essentially a stripped down soul album. Sounds dated but appreciate the influence. It also has a surprisingly diverse style that varies from track to track.

Few albums are as truly revolutionary as The Message, literally creating one of the most popular genres of all time. The title track is so iconic. It’s instantly recognizable and a huge part of pop culture. 7.2/10

Album could be better but an extra star for being pioneering.

Sooo it was wn okay album little bit like the one from yesterday but all good

good

socially conscious lyrics. influential and essential album of early hip hop, particularly “the message”. an obvious choice for this list.

This is exactly what I thought it was going to sound like and then exactly what I didn’t expect. Started great, ended great. A little so-so in the middle but that’s ok. Really enjoyed this for the most part.

really fun album. great energy all the way through

Ik vond dit wel het goede album om weer back in de game te komen chat!! Echt hee leuk album, had nog nooit echt wat van Grandmaster Flash geluisterd! Vet om die overgang van disco naar hiphop er doorheen te horen en sick hoe veel er gesampeled is

This album is a milestone of hip hop and the perfect example of old school work. Everybody knows 'The Message'. But what few people who have not actually listened to this album know is that the old school rap is just one part of the album. The opener 'She's Fresh' is pure funk with live instruments or 'You Are' a proper soul ballad. You could say that this a funk album all in all. And that is great. It's rich and you want to groove. I don't give it 5 stars because the simple raps feel a bit outdated today.

Ridiculously funky, fresh, fun. Awesome. 4 / 5 stars.

Iconic. Definitely an album that everyone interested in hip-hop should know just for its place in the genre's history if nothing else. It's just a fun listen even setting that aside though. A bit dated sounding but way less than you'd think for something over 40 years old.

A hugely influential album, in whatever form you find it. The original album had seven tracks, but nowadays you usually see it streaming with eight, including the key last song being "The Adventures Of Grandmaster Flash On The Wheels of Steel." Side One is terrific. All four songs are strong though the opener "She's Fresh" is the winner -- a tremendous party song that has you singing along from the get go. "It's Nasty" is almost as good, with the sample of Tom Tom Club, "Scorpio" a key electro-dance track and "It's A Shame" solid. Peaks early but a great side. Side Two has two very weak tracks, "Dreamin'" and the poor ode to God "You Are." Really, He deserves better. And then "The Message," one of the key tracks in hip hop history. Five of seven (or six of eight) with three or four classics that are very influential. It's a pity the two weak tracks keep this from being perfect. You're better off with a hits set, but it needs to be heard.

The Message is one of the best Old School Rap songs ever. Some funky songs like She’s Fresh. As soon as It’s Nasty starts it is like…I know this! Think Tom Tom Club. Scorpio is so iconic that there were many songs during the time that used that same formula (sound, beat, electronic voice). They do a great job integrating the It’s a Shame by Stevie Wonder into their own Rap version. Dreamin’ and You Are are great soulful ballads. The bonus song Wheels of Steel is a great remix bonus. Standouts: The Message, Scorpio, It’s a Shame Others: It’s Nasty

The Message by Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five Edit - My reviews and tone may get a bit more neutral and maybe upbeat... because I am now reading up on the influence / likely reason an album is here, so I know a bit better what I am in for, and thus less bemused about "what is this?". So thank you 1001 list for introducing me to this seminal album/group. They (MC’s and DJs coming together) paved the way by going from "house parties" to recording studios with their new form of music - rap and hip hop, with important social commentary. It is going to be hard to rate this separately from the obvious importance of a work (I get it) from personal enjoyment, as I don't listen to this style much... and I am only learning to appreciate how much this was “breakthrough” as a style and voice. LIKES +very high quality, no rubbish on this album - (slick and professional in a good way) +warm grooves, oddly soothing and comforting sound +history lesson/art education about his being the first band and seminal work in the style of HIP HOP +oddly familiar (I suppose endlessly covered is why) DISLIKES -its a bit slow at times, and demands attention, COOL % whole song dedicated to celebrating / devoted to “Stevie Wonder” as “the Greatest” % Hearing all the special sounds and cuts and stuff they probably invested, in its original context and early form. % there is a dance remix of The Message. That Notable tracks - The Message - Turns out I know this song "The Message". It’s very well produced, catchy beat and rolling vocals carry me along ... has a warm, listening style, despite the harsh themes covered. I can see how it got the status of “anthem”. New York - cautionary tales, with a cool signature voice effect I dont know the same for.. Scorpio - seems to showcase use of a robot voice - I expect this was very new at the time... and was very cool for the time. Summary: definitely “must listen” as part fo a good Musicology education of the seminal works and sounds that started it all. Top quality production and enjoyable listening. Its objectively high quality art of a new style. I enjoyed it, and its nice to know it a bit better. And to understand its importance socially too. Does it belong on a 1001 list? (1-5) 5 Personal Enjoyment (1-5) 3.5 Will I listen again? Maybe Final score. 4

Smart and fun. What's not to like? The posed photo for the cover is hilarious.

The mix of rap and soul really made this album feel on the cusp of a big change, like it was. Also sick bass.

some tracks were a bit too long but lotta great funky tunes. cool they got stevie on !

Una experiencia impresionante que explota los mejores aspectos del rock para contar una fantástica historia. Una Opera Rock liderada por la impresionante y carismática voz de Meat Loaf. Uno de los álbumes más imprescindibles de la historia.

Very interesting record with an innovative and fresh sound and also full of clever lyrics.

No wonder this was so influential. I was afraid at first this record would be carried by the famous titular track, but clearly not the case. Funky, fun, and exciting with plenty of highlights. The emotional soulful tracks "Dreamin" and "You Are" do not fit at all and are mediocre on their own. I could dance to "It's a Shame" and "The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash" is a samplepaedic masterpiece. "Scorpio" is a strange electronic piece, but I could dig it. Favorites: It's Nasty, It's a Shame, The Message, Adventures of Grandmaster Flash

Groundbreaking

Quite a fun listen, on the whole - I enjoyed the experimentation. "She's Fresh" is very funky, "It's Nasty" is delightfully twee - I guess that's mostly the Tom Tom Club sample... I almost want to penalize the album a star for the more ballady tracks, but I guess I should just accept them as the price of the group trying out new things... Fave track - "The Message" is a monster, obviously - I also dug "Scorpio" for that early electro clash feeling!

Pretty nice hip hop/R&B album in my opinion. I'm not the biggest fan of music of this type from this era, but this was pretty good. A lot of nice beats and good vocals. Liked the use of sampling and some of the lyrical topics (there were some silly, less serious songs and some very political songs). While this is obviously an R&B album, I like the other influences this album includes like the funky baselines used on a handful of songs. Overall pretty enjoyable listen. Not too long but still enjoyable, easily an 8/10. Best Tracks She's Fresh - Very silly opening track. Not the best song on the album lyrically but the musical influences on the song set a good idea of what the album will sound like. The Message - Very nice beat. Absolutely iconic instrumental. The lyrics are absolutely impactful, describing the horrors of urban life during the time. This lyrical concept of speaking out about life in urban areas has certainly gone somewhere with modern rappers like Kendrick Lamar. Very important and amazing song. Worst Tracks Scorpio - It has an interesting techno-inspired beat and vocals. Not really my thing in all honesty. Overall, it doesn't really stand out to me compared to some of the other tracks.

I mean, it's early hip hop days, and the title track is about as influential as you could say a song is. Rest of the album is a bit hit and miss. Wasn't expecting the couple of Stevie Wonder inspired slow jams. Enjoyable though.

Jo men asså de va riktigt banger album. 80-tals hip-hop är ju verkligen en vibe. Men ja ja ja jag gillar.

This one was hard to track down. It’s amazing how far this genre has come from the early days like this record.

Early 80's old-school hip hop. Great beats, smooth listening, no duds as the whole album explores different sounds while generally at a relaxed pace. The ice cold title track is the standout.

amazingly fun!!!!

Had not heard in the context of an album before, fascinating to hear the early development of hip hop, with both bits of social conscience and bits of discrimination dropped in...

Fun album, the message is obviously a standout

tykkäämpi vanhemmasta hip hop here we go... mutta tässä huomaa että tosiaan 1982 ei ollut genren kulta kausi, liikaa r ja b suatanailua...... hyvät biisit on kuitenkin erin omaisia ja lyrisismi on välillä niin raakaa kuin, PORSAAN LEIKE JÄÄN KURIMUKSESSA... the message

Fun and funky! Not a big hip hop fan but this made me question that assertion. This is some seriously good hip hop. A nice mix of screwing around and having something to say, it didn't take itself too seriously but didn't seem like a joke either. Also, I just got that the line from Hamilton "sometimes it makes me wonder why I even bring the thunder" is an homage to 'The Message.' Brilliant.

Whenever I think of Grandmaster Flash, I think of the episode of The Leftovers, where Meg and Tommy are driving down the road late at night blasting "White Lines" (well what about Shaun of the Dead? I think that was supposed to be a reference to the Duran Duran version, and also, when I first saw Shaun of the Dead, I had no idea what that joke was referencing, hence my association with The Leftovers). This album is a technical masterpiece. The funk bass lines, the sampling, the scratching... it's incredibly impressive and very fun to listen to. The use of Tom Tom Club's "Genius of Love" on "It's Nasty" is absolute perfection; it's an incredible backbeat for the band to rap to. The way that "The Message" has permeated our culture speaks to how much influence Grandmaster Flash has had on music throughout his life (coincidentally, I had Ice Cube's 'The Predator' the day before, and I love the "Check Yo Self" remix). My only beef with this album is that the lyrics were kinda cheesy at times. For a song called "It's Nasty," the lyrics were pretty tame (maybe there's an irony in that since this song was addressing criticisms against the band?), and the Stevie Wonder tribute was pretty odd too. I have no beef with paying tribute to Stevie, but the structure of the lyrics is almost like an ode, and it just felt off to me. Still, this is a fantastic album, and I think that Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five were very deserving to be the first rap/hip hop artist to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Also, it was a huge treat to see Grandmaster Flash on The Masked Singer this season, and apologies if that was a spoiler.

Funky and fresh, smooth funk with some nice rap

Funky, soulful and a lot of fun. Clearly a very influential and important album in the genre.

Nearly five stars for The Message alone. What the hell! An insane track in an equally insane-ly great record.

Klinkt goed voor z'n tijd en is best gevarieerd

Fantastic album to kick off the week! All the songs were groovy and dare I say funky...filled with soul! That last song was super interesting too using all the samples from various songs like Good Times, Another One Bites the Dust, Rapture, and maybe more. More albums like this please!

It’s great. It’s important. This album has influenced so many albums and artists and songs. It is also uneven. So I’ll say 4 not 5. But still really cool. So many influences here.

It's a good album and the great songs like the message outshines the low points. The quality of the lyrics are a mixed bag. It doesn't quite hold up as a whole but it's something I've listened to before and will listen to again.

While it’s probably not the first, it feels like the first post-disco album on this list. The post-disco combined with very early hip hop makes a very fun and unique combo that’s also timeless with songs like it’s nasty and the message still are sampled to this day. Those also happen to be the best tracks along with Scorpio but there are def no bad tracks. The lyrics are also interesting since they’re pretty dark compared to the production.

Some amazing grooves on here. Doug wimbash from Living Colour played bass on this album. I really like how it is not only a hip hop album but it has a variety of styles and genres and every song has a great hook. I like the stevie wonder tribute and you are. The vocals and piano on “you are” are so good. “It’s nasty” is great- I like how they built on the genius of love groove with the new bridge section, horns, and kazoo break. She’s Fresh is my favorite tune.

Stevie wonder song had me cracking up. Bass playing is killer! Jesus song was kinda funny too but idk if it was supposed to be. Had a great time listening but dunno if I’ll listen again

Unquestionable brilliance ... with a lot of what we can charitably call "filler" thrown in to stretch it to album length.

it’s hard not to have a fun time listening to this. most of the songs feel so interactive with the consistent call and response vocals. that mixed with the gated reverb gives this album an immediate sense of space, which makes you feel like you’re in the room with them.

This album came out the year I graduated from high school. In a time before streaming, MP3s and even CDs, we somehow found The Message on FM radio and latched on to it. We memorized the words and kept sharing it with our friends. This and Blondie’s “Rapture” (sampled on “Wheels of Steel”) were our first exposure to this new thing called “rap”. Listening to The Message track for the first time in years gives me that same thrill from when it was new. It still feels gritty and genuine. A snapshot of early 80s New York street life. “It’s Nasty” samples “Genius of Love” from the Tom Tom Club, and if you don’t know that song, do yourself a favor and check it out. This is a case of the sampled-from song being better than the sampled-to song. It’s Nasty, Scorpio and She’s Fresh are exactly what I expected the rest of GMF to sound like. The surprise here came in songs like ”Dreamin’”, which shows their musical range, even though it’s not nearly as good as actually listening to Stevie Wonder. And “You Are” was a shock - a Christian praise song from Grandmaster Flash!? That clicks with me on a personal spiritual level, but musically it took my respect for GMF up a notch. And “Wheels of Steel” just resonates with me because it samples a bunch of songs that I knew from that time. Up one notch from 3 for me, just for the personal connection with The Message from years ago.

I always hear GMF as history. The music is always couched as hip-hop’s origins. Listening to the entirety of this record, puts GMF and the FF in context. This is future music. It’s a hot mess and I love it. It’s a band not creating hip-hop but experimenting with every musical idea that’s lying around them at the time. There’s techno, Kraftwerk-adjacent tracks. There are R&B ballads. There’s funk. Perhaps more than anything there’s funk, for this music shares not only musically with Parliament Funkadelic but spiritually with Parliament Funkadelic more than anything else. More than even hip-hop. I mean, there are only two rap songs on this album and they’re the last two. This album is fun, wild. Sounds like a block party and I’m hear for it.

Charlie already said everything that I could have with this one. Early, experimental, confusing, funny, uneven pacing. But... a VIBE. An arrival. It does sound like they're figuring out what it is. I love the playfulness of it, the songs that feel like skits. And yeah, the title track is really worth the price of admission. I love how it just perfectly captures something, it's like a photograph. 4/5. Special.

Cool

Rap y soul feliz. Bien street. De los orígenes. Empiezan a usar bastante sintes.

This album is excellent, but it is so hard to find. I had to combine Spotify and Youtube cherry-picking. Can you guys get your shit together and make the album available somewhere?

Was there only one song on this album? Anyways, liked it. The atmosphere was fun and uplifting. Pleasant experience overall.

what was the message

From the cradle of early, transitive, hip hop, this album is technically raw at times and creatively groundbreaking but still linked to the R&B roots of its predecessors. I get hints of Sly and the Family Stone, Tower of Power, 70's Philadelphia funk (It's a Shame straight up samples the Spinners version and a Bootsy Collins'ish slappin' bass line accentuates multiple tracks), and Dreamin' is sent out to Stevie Wonder and could easily be compared to anything from Earth, Wind & Fire. The rhymes in the title track may sound simple by today's standards but the words and their inherent emotion are nonetheless timeless.

She's Fresh - it's a bop! It's Nasty - I'm sorry but this reminded me of Wham Rap! It could be because I watched the extremely cheesy video. Scorpio - I like the beat, and the computerized voice is very 1982! It's a Shame - This is groovy... nice vibe. Dreamin' - Sent out to Stevie Wonder at the beginning of the song, and throughout the song.. it definitely has that Wonder-ful feel to it. You Are - It started as a really nice love song, then took a hard turn to a spoken word religious song. The Message - The title song - and the only one I've heard before. A socially conscious straight up rap song with a great beat. The lyrics are more than a little homophobic, though. "Don't push me 'cause I'm close to the edge"

Hip-Hop was a rapidly mutating beast in the early 80s and this metamorphosis is depicted in this album, with its forays into late 70s funk, Kraftwerkesque electro and endearingly odd ballads dedicated to their idols. While these shifts are surprising, they don't hamper the album overall, as they are anchored by some of the most innovative songs in the genre, providing the backbone for what it would become and increasingly referenced in the decades that followed. Favorites: She's Fresh, It's Nasty, Scorpio, The Message, The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash on the Wheel of Steel.

fun. good

I like the funk.

This album is super fun, it reminds me of Boys II Men. I did not expect a ballad, but it is really nice -- Yesterday. Can't Keep Running Away is so good!

Classic in the way the Pantheon is: foundational to just about everything that came after.

For the time, this feels very innovative. You still hear these samples in modern music even today...

Pretty groundbreaking stuff. The title track is a classic. Unfortunately I can't find the full album anywhere, but from what I've heard it's a 4/5.

Rap breakthrough album. It’s fresh.

- oh the beginning of She's Fresh is tingly - bass!!!!! - is that a kazoo?? love it - like these sci fi vibes in Scorpio (having said that its getting a little old as the song goes on) - Another One Bites the Dust by Queen?! (the Wikipedia page for this song is all other songs and i just only recognize one, great lol) overall impressions, at the beginning thought this might be a 5 star album but it kind of lost me in the second half. really enjoyed though.

Not a huge fan of specifically Scorpio and You Are. Everything else rules. She’s Fresh is the best!

Classic rap sounds, fun listening. Now I want to listen to more by them.

Pretty godd

A Hip Hop album that's under an hour long?! I am immediately erect. Cheesy, but a good kind of cheese. The fun and funky fresh kind. I enjoyed most of the tracks here, especially the title track. I also liked the complete curveball that "Scorpio" was.

How can you fail to be charmed by this album? Every inch of it oozes confidence; a bunch of guys doing something new but with total conviction that everything they are making is pure gold. And what do you know? They were right. "Scorpio" is still a thrilling listen and "Its a Shame" is still as poignant now as it was when it was written. A incredibly entertaining and well put together album.

It's easy to make fun of how cheesy this album is, but it was revolutionary in '82. Mad respect.

I rock with this. Musically somewhere between funk and hip-hop, it starts of fun and high energy but moves in quite a few directions throughout it’s mere 36 or so minute runtime. I found that it has aged better than some of the other old-school hip-hop albums on here, but maybe that’s just me

Trevligt att lyssna på! Intressant hur de låtar på denna skiva som är hiphop inte låter nära på lika föråldrat som mycket annat från 80-talet. Dreamin' är en sån söt och swag hyllningslåt! Därtill är pärmbilden swag, definitivt bland de bättre.

Funny how despite the legendary status and even now we have radio stations that play album tracks, I still haven't heard anything other than the two obvious classic tracks at the end here. Most of the rating goes to that, genre-defining. Mention also to Scorpio. The 'Expanded edition' deleting the wheels of steel though is a weird move given it's the second best thing here.

There's definitely some filler but a ton of hip hop innovation at work as well. Aside from the historical significance, a solid album overall in its own right.

Still so fun to listen to. What tunes! It’s not quite 5 star for me.

awesome bass throughout the album

I like this. I’d listen to it again.

This is a fun record. 80s hip hop is so different to what we have today. And this is a great entry into that world.

Today we have something a little different from all the 70s rock that seems to have been recommended recently. I’m excited for this one - I always felt that old school hip hop was so much better than modern day rap. I’d take Sugarhill Gang over Dave any day. Songs I already knew: The Message Favourite after listening: The Message, She’s Fresh Overall: 8/10 I really enjoyed this album. The highlights were definitely bookending the album, with She’s Fresh at the front and The Messgage at the back, but the songs in between have excellent funk, rapping and singing. There are some fairly odd lyrics at times - such as an ode to god in You Are as well as an ode to Stevie Wonder in Dreamin’, but it didn’t stop me from dancing like Tommy Verceti for the duration. An easy recommendation for anybody who enjoys older rap music.

Classic. Didn't know they used that beat that's in It's Nasty