| "The Message" | |
|---|---|
 Song by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five featuring Melle Mel and Duke Bootee from the album The Message | |
|
B-side |
"The Message" (Instrumental) |
|
Released |
1 July 1982 |
|
Format |
CD, vinyl, cassette |
|
Recorded |
1982 |
|
Genre |
|
|
Length |
7:10 |
|
Label |
|
|
Writer(s) |
J. Chase, E. Fletcher, M. Glover, S. Robinson |
|
Producer(s) |
Jiggs Chase, E. Fletcher, Sylvia Inc. |
"The Message" is a song by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. It was released as a single by Sugar Hill Records in 1982, and was later featured on the group's debut studio album The Message. "The Message" was the first prominent hip hop song to provide a lyrical social commentary. It took hip hop music from house parties to the scoial platforms later developed by groups like Public Enemy, N.W.A and Boogie Down Productions. The song was produced by Sugar Hill session musician Ed "Duke Bootee" Fletcher, and performed by Furious Five MC Melle Mel.
The song is considered one of the greatest hip hop songs of all time. In addition to being widely regarded as an all-time hip hop anthem, "The Message" has been credited as the song that catapulted rappers from the background to the forefront of hip hop. "The Message" has been reused, referenced and sampled by almost 200 songs.[1]