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'''Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five''' was an influential [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States American] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hip_hop_music hip hop] group formed in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Bronx South Bronx] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City New York City] in 1978. Composed of one [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disc_jockey DJ] ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grandmaster_Flash Grandmaster Flash]) and five [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rappers rappers] ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melle_Mel Melle Mel], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Kidd_Creole_(rapper) Kidd Creole], Cowboy, Mr. Ness/Scorpio, and Rahiem), the group's use of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turntablism turntablism], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Break-beat break-beat] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disc_jockey deejaying], choreographed stage routines and lyricism was a significant force in the early development of hip-hop music.

The group rose to fame in the early 1980s with their first successful single "Freedom" and later on with their ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masterpiece magnum opus]'' "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Message_(Grandmaster_Flash_and_the_Furious_Five_song) The Message]", which is often cited as among the most influential hip hop songs. However, in 1983, relations between Grandmaster Flash and Melle Mel became strained and the group disbanded. A reunion was organized in 1987, and it released a new album. Afterward, the sextet disbanded permanently.

Overall, the group was active for five years and released two [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Studio_albums studio albums]. In 2007, it became the first hip hop group ever to be inducted into the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_and_Roll_Hall_of_Fame Rock & Roll Hall of Fame].

==History<span class="mw-editsection mw-editsection-expanded" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;padding-right:0.25em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;direction:ltr;">[[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Grandmaster_Flash_and_the_Furious_Five&action=edit&section=1 edit source] | [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grandmaster_Flash_and_the_Furious_Five?veaction=edit&vesection=1 editbeta]]==

===Formation and early years (1978–1979)<span class="mw-editsection mw-editsection-expanded" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;padding-right:0.25em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;direction:ltr;">[[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Grandmaster_Flash_and_the_Furious_Five&action=edit&section=2 edit source] | [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grandmaster_Flash_and_the_Furious_Five?veaction=edit&vesection=2 editbeta]]===

Prior to the formation of the Furious Five, Grandmaster Flash worked with the "L Brothers" which consisted of "Mean Gene" Livingston, Claudio Livingston and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Wizzard_Theodore Grand Wizzard Theodore].[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grandmaster_Flash_and_the_Furious_Five#cite_note-2 [2]] Flash practiced while Grand Wizard Theodore watched until Flash enabled the much shorter Theodore the opportunity to hone his craft as an aspiring DJ by placing a crate of records in front of the turntables so Theodore could stand on to reach the turntables. However, it wasn't until 1977 that he began collaborating with rappers. Flash then recruited his friend Cowboy, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kidd_Creole Kidd Creole] and Melle Mel. The trio called themselves the Three MC's who are the first emcee group as it relates to rap as we know it today. The 3 emcees worked with Flash, who went on to bring in Mr. Ness/Scorpio (Eddie Morris) and Raheim (Guy Williams). After the formation of the Furious 5, Flash also worked with rapper Kurtis Blow doing parties in Queens. During the time Flash worked with Kurtis Blow, it was mainly due to internal disputes with the emcees, so for a short time prior to the formation of the Cold Crush Brothers in 1981, DJ Charlie Chase was the Furious 5's DJ.

Grandmaster Flash & The Furious 5 were the number one rap group on the streets of NYC before rap music was embraced by the music industry and set the standard for all other emcee groups who came after them. Among the first singles they released were "We Rap More Mellow" which was falsely registered under the name "The Younger Generation" as the name of the group and a live version of "Flash to the Beat".

They were locally popular, gaining recognition for their skillful raps and deejaying, but it wasn't until the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sugarhill_Gang Sugarhill Gang]'s "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapper%27s_Delight Rapper's Delight]" proved that hip hop music could reach mainstream that they began recording. In 1979 they released their first single on [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enjoy_Records Enjoy Records], "Superappin'". Afterwards, they switched to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sylvia_Robinson Sylvia Robinson]'s [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sugar_Hill_Records_(rap) Sugar Hill Records] after an agreement that they could perform over a current DJ favorite.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grandmaster_Flash_and_the_Furious_Five#cite_note-rollingstone-1 [1]][http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grandmaster_Flash_and_the_Furious_Five#cite_note-oldschool-3 [3]][http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grandmaster_Flash_and_the_Furious_Five#cite_note-VH1-4 [4]]

===Mainstream success and ''The Message'' (1980–1982)<span class="mw-editsection mw-editsection-expanded" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;padding-right:0.25em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;direction:ltr;">[[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Grandmaster_Flash_and_the_Furious_Five&action=edit&section=3 edit source] | [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grandmaster_Flash_and_the_Furious_Five?veaction=edit&vesection=3 editbeta]]===

In 1980, the group had their Sugarhill Records debut with "Freedom", reaching #19 on the R&B chart and selling over 50,000 copies.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grandmaster_Flash_and_the_Furious_Five#cite_note-Grandmaster_Flash_Biography-5 [5]] The follow-up "Birthday Party" went on to become a hit as well.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grandmaster_Flash_and_the_Furious_Five#cite_note-Grandmaster_Flash_Biography-5 [5]] In 1981 Grandmaster Flash released "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Adventures_of_Grandmaster_Flash_on_the_Wheels_of_Steel The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash on the Wheels of Steel]", This was a multi deck live recording of one of Grandmaster flash's routines featuring, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_(band) Queen]'s "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Another_One_Bites_the_Dust Another One Bites the Dust]" and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chic_(band) Chic]'s "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Times_(Chic_song) Good Times]". It also marked the first time that scratching & turntable trickery had been actually recorded on a record.

In 1982 the group released "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Message_(Grandmaster_Flash_and_the_Furious_Five_song) The Message]," which was produced by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clifton_%22Jiggs%22_Chase Clifton "Jiggs" Chase] and Ed "Duke Bootee" Fletcher, the latter of whom co-wrote the song alongside Melle Mel. It provided a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_criticism political] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_commentary social commentary] and went on to become a driving force behind [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conscious_hip-hop conscious hip-hop]. The song peaked at #4 in the R&B chart and #62 in the pop chart, and established hip-hop's credibility in mainstream music. Other than Melle Mel, however, no members of the group actually appear on the record.

Their debut album was also named ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Message_(Grandmaster_Flash_and_the_Furious_Five_album) The Message]'', and it went on to become a prominent achievement in the history of hip-hop.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grandmaster_Flash_and_the_Furious_Five#cite_note-rollingstone-1 [1]][http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grandmaster_Flash_and_the_Furious_Five#cite_note-oldschool-3 [3]][http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grandmaster_Flash_and_the_Furious_Five#cite_note-VH1-4 [4]]

===Breakup (1983–1986)<span class="mw-editsection mw-editsection-expanded" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;padding-right:0.25em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;direction:ltr;">[[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Grandmaster_Flash_and_the_Furious_Five&action=edit&section=4 edit source] | [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grandmaster_Flash_and_the_Furious_Five?veaction=edit&vesection=4 editbeta]]===

In 1983, Grandmaster Flash sued Sugar Hill Records for $5 million in unpaid royalties. This resulted in the single "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Lines_(Don%27t_Don%27t_Do_It) White Lines (Don't Don't Do It)]" being credited to "Grandmaster & Melle Mel". The song reached #47 in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard_(magazine) Billboard]'s [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_R%26B/Hip-Hop_Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs] chart. Another lawsuit was filed over certain elements of the song being stolen from "Cavern" by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liquid_Liquid Liquid Liquid], from which Sugar Hill Records would never recover.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grandmaster_Flash_and_the_Furious_Five#cite_note-6 [6]]

The royalties dispute split the group, and Melle Mel left, soon followed by Mr. Ness/Scorpio and Cowboy after "White Lines (Don't Don't Do It)" was a hit, where they formed Grandmaster Melle Mel and the Furious Five and released the album ''Grandmaster Melle Mel and the Furious Five'' in 1984. Meanwhile, Grandmaster Flash, Kidd Creole, and Raheim left for [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elektra_Records Elektra Records] and included to the group three new members "The Lord LaVon" (Kevin L. Dukes - Phenomenal writer, Rapper and Bassist),Russell Wheeler (Rapper - "Mr. Broadway") and "Larry-Love" (Larry Parker - Dancer). They worked under the name "Grandmaster Flash" on ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/They_Said_It_Couldn%27t_Be_Done They Said It Couldn't Be Done]'', ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Source_(Grandmaster_Flash_album) The Source]'', and ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ba-Dop-Boom-Bang Ba-Dop-Boom-Bang]''. The additional members The Lord La Von, Larry Love and Mr. Broadway formed the "Furious Five" but they could not use the name as Sugar Hill Records owned the rights.

Grandmaster Flash and his new "Furious Five" had hits with their three albums, which made it to the top fifty of ''Billboard'''s [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_R%26B/Hip-Hop_Albums R&B/Hip-Hop Albums] chart, whereas [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melle_Mel Melle Mel] and his group fared better, most notably with the recording of "Beat Street Breakdown", which peaked at #8 in the R&B chart. During this period, Melle Mel gained higher success, appearing in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaka_Khan Chaka Khan]'s "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Feel_for_You I Feel for You]", which won the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grammy_Award_for_Best_Female_R%26B_Vocal_Performance Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance]in 1985.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grandmaster_Flash_and_the_Furious_Five#cite_note-rollingstone-1 [1]][http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grandmaster_Flash_and_the_Furious_Five#cite_note-oldschool-3 [3]][http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grandmaster_Flash_and_the_Furious_Five#cite_note-VH1-4 [4]]

===Reunion and waning popularity (1987–1988)<span class="mw-editsection mw-editsection-expanded" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;padding-right:0.25em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;direction:ltr;">[[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Grandmaster_Flash_and_the_Furious_Five&action=edit&section=5 edit source] | [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grandmaster_Flash_and_the_Furious_Five?veaction=edit&vesection=5 editbeta]]===

1987 brought back the original lineup of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five when they performed for a charity concert at Madison Square Garden. They soon reunited for their first studio album in nearly five years, recording ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_the_Strength On the Strength]'', which was released on April 1988. The album failed to reach the success of ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Message_(Grandmaster_Flash_and_the_Furious_Five_album) The Message]'' and received lukewarm reception. The group never really enjoyed the same success as they did in the early 1980s and permanently broke up afterwards.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grandmaster_Flash_and_the_Furious_Five#cite_note-rollingstone-1 [1]][http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grandmaster_Flash_and_the_Furious_Five#cite_note-oldschool-3 [3]][http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grandmaster_Flash_and_the_Furious_Five#cite_note-VH1-4 [4]]

===Permanent disbandment and post-''On the Strength'' (1989–present)<span class="mw-editsection mw-editsection-expanded" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;padding-right:0.25em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;direction:ltr;">[[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Grandmaster_Flash_and_the_Furious_Five&action=edit&section=6 edit source] | [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grandmaster_Flash_and_the_Furious_Five?veaction=edit&vesection=6 editbeta]]===

Each member went down his own path, though some have briefly worked together. Melle Mel, Scorpio and Cowboy released another album as Grandmaster Melle Mel and the Furious Five, ''Piano'', in 1989. Keith "Cowboy" Wiggins died due to his addiction to crack cocaine on September 8, 1989.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grandmaster_Flash_and_the_Furious_Five#cite_note-7 [7]]

In 1990, Grandmaster Flash produced Just-Ice's album ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masterpiece_(Just-Ice_album) Masterpiece]''. He went on to work as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musical_director musical director] for ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Chris_Rock_Show The Chris Rock Show]'', and later released ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Official_Adventures_of_Grandmaster_Flash The Official Adventures of Grandmaster Flash]'', ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essential_Mix:_Classic_Edition Essential Mix: Classic Edition]'', and ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bridge_-_Concept_Of_A_Culture The Bridge - Concept Of A Culture]''. He has also received many accolades, including the DJ Vanguard Award from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Gates Bill Gates] in 2004, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RIAA RIAA]'s Lifetime Achievement Award at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in 2005, and[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Entertainment_Television BET]'s [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BET_Hip_Hop_Awards#2006_BET_Hip_Hop_Awards_winners I Am Hip-Hop Icon Award] in 2006. His autobiography, ''The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash: My Life, My Beats'', was released in 2007.

In 1985, Melle Mel met [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quincy_Jones Quincy Jones] at the Grammys, and they began to collaborate for ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Back_on_the_Block Back on the Block]''. This led to Mel being featured in the song "Back on the Block", which won him the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grammy_Award_for_Best_Rap_Performance_by_a_Duo_or_Group Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group] in 1991. He would pick up an additional [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grammy_Award_for_Best_Spoken_Word_Album Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album] in 2002 for his contributions in ''Q: The Autobiography of Quincy Jones''. 1997 saw him sign onto Straight Game Records and releasing ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_Now_(Melle_Mel_album) Right Now]'' with Mr. Ness/Scorpio. The album also featured Rondo, for which he would form a group with him called Die Hard. They released an album entitled ''On Lock'' in 2002.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grandmaster_Flash_and_the_Furious_Five#cite_note-interview-8 [8]] On January 23, 2007, he changed his name to Grandmaster Melle Mel and released his first solo studio album, ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muscles_(album) Muscles]'', The first single and music video was "M3 - The New Message". He has also released the children's book ''The Portal in the Park'', which features a CD where children can read and rap along with him. This project featured a then unknown Lady Gaga. She performs with Mel on the songs "World Family Tree" and "The Foutain Of Truth".[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grandmaster_Flash_and_the_Furious_Five#cite_note-rollingstone-1 [1]][http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grandmaster_Flash_and_the_Furious_Five#cite_note-oldschool-3 [3]][http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grandmaster_Flash_and_the_Furious_Five#cite_note-VH1-4 [4]]

When asked of a possible reunion in 2002, Melle Mel responded:

{| class="cquote" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.1875px;margin:auto;border-collapse:collapse;border:none;width:auto;"

| style="border:none;color:rgb(178,183,242);font-size:35px;font-family:'TimesNewRoman',serif;font-weight:bold;padding:10px;" valign="top" width="20"|“

| style="border:none;padding:4px10px;" valign="top"|It['s] not a question of whether we could get together or not [...] I just don['t] think that we could get a deal. The record company people just don['t] see a market for us.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grandmaster_Flash_and_the_Furious_Five#cite_note-interview-8 [8]]

| style="border:none;color:rgb(178,183,242);font-size:35px;font-family:'TimesNewRoman',serif;font-weight:bold;text-align:right;padding:10px;" valign="bottom" width="20"|”

|}

==Legacy and Influence<span class="mw-editsection mw-editsection-expanded" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;padding-right:0.25em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;direction:ltr;">[[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Grandmaster_Flash_and_the_Furious_Five&action=edit&section=7 edit source] | [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grandmaster_Flash_and_the_Furious_Five?veaction=edit&vesection=7 editbeta]]==

Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five are a well-respected group in the history of hip hop music. They have been honored at the VH1 Hip Hop Honors in 2005 and were inducted into the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_%26_Roll_Hall_of_Fame Rock & Roll Hall of Fame] in 2007. The Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. displays in their historical archives the vinyl records and the turntable used by DJ Grandmaster Flash.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grandmaster_Flash_and_the_Furious_Five#cite_note-9 [9]]

They have influenced many musical acts[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grandmaster_Flash_and_the_Furious_Five#cite_note-10 [10]] such as The Cold Crush Brothers, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Run-D.M.C. Run-D.M.C.], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whodini Whodini], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_Enemy_(group) Public Enemy], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boogie_Down_Productions Boogie Down Productions], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KRS-One KRS-One], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EPMD EPMD], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stetsasonic Stetsasonic], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doug_E._Fresh Doug E. Fresh], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt-n-Pepa Salt-n-Pepa], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultramagnetic_MC%27s Ultramagnetic MC's], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DJ_Jazzy_Jeff_%26_the_Fresh_Prince DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eminem Eminem], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharoahe_Monch Pharoahe Monch], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Busta_Rhymes Busta Rhymes], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DJ_Quik DJ Quik], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beastie_Boys Beastie Boys], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hieroglyphics Hieroglyphics], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Too_Short Too Short], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wu-tang_Clan Wu-tang Clan], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Underground Digital Underground], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NWA NWA], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur Tupac Shakur], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snoop_Dogg Snoop Doggy Dogg], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludacris Ludacris],[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grandmaster_Flash_and_the_Furious_Five#cite_note-11 [11]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heavy_D Heavy D], among many others. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_Cube Ice Cube] recorded a song titled "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Check_Yo_Self Check Yo Self]" with [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Das_EFX Das EFX], the remix of which sampled the music of "The Message."

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Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five