Hip-Hop Pioneers GrandMaster Flash and the Furious Five Inducted into Bronx Walk of Fame

Thursday, July 1, 2004
By: brooklyniteOne

Hip-hop pioneer GrandMaster Flash and the Furious Five received a Citation of Merit from Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion Jr. They were inducted into the Bronx Walk of Fame in a ceremony at Bronx Borough Hall Saturday June 26, 2004. The rapper and DJ, whose real name is Joseph Saddler, began spinning records as a teen in the Bronx. He was honored with a permanent plaque bearing his name along the Grand Concourse.

The legendary rappers were honored with a permanent plaque bearing their names along the Grand Concourse.

Grand Master Flash developed a series of groundbreaking techniques including "cutting" (moving between tracks exactly on the beat), "back-spinning" (manually turning records to repeat brief snippets of sound) and "phasing" (manipulating turntable speeds), creating the basic vocabulary which DJs continue to follow even today.

"The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash on the Wheels of Steel" was the group's first truly noticed recording, introducing Flash's " cutting " techniques to create a stunning sound collage from snippets of songs by Chic, Blondie and Queen. Flash and the Five's next effort, 1982's " The Message ," was even more revelatory -- for the first time, hip-hop became a vehicle not merely for bragging and boasting but for relaying social commentary, with Melle Mel delivering a rap detailing the grim realities of life in the ghetto.

The group has been sampled for years unbenounced to Hip-Hop's new younger generation. Not only "The Message" but other tracks like "New York, New York" which was used by The Dogg Pound. Many rappers obviously take advantage and capitalize off of the ignorance of the younger Hip-Hop generation in regards to the roots and foundation of Hip-Hop. Groups like GrandMaster Flash and the Furious Five were pioneers that brought something new to Hip-Hop music.

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