Description
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five – The Message – Orange Vinyl Record
Released on October 1, 1982, The Message is the debut studio album by Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five, and it stands as one of the most influential records in hip-hop history. At a time when hip-hop was still seen primarily as party music, this album introduced a level of social consciousness and storytelling that would shape the genre for decades to come. With its mix of funk-infused beats, socially charged lyrics, and innovative turntablism, The Message was more than just an album—it was a revolution.
Musically, The Message fuses hip-hop, funk, and electro, with Grandmaster Flash’s pioneering DJ techniques providing a sonic foundation for Melle Mel, Scorpio, Cowboy, Kid Creole, and Raheim to deliver their rhymes. The album moves between party-starting anthems and stark social realism, showing the dual nature of early hip-hop—both as a form of celebration and as a platform for protest.
Of course, the album’s most famous track is The Message, a groundbreaking single that changed hip-hop forever. Released earlier in 1982, the song features Melle Mel’s vivid, unflinching lyrics about urban decay, poverty, crime, and the struggles of inner-city life. The song’s haunting refrain—Don’t push me ’cause I’m close to the edge—became an anthem for those facing hardship, proving that hip-hop could be both entertaining and deeply meaningful. It was a stark departure from the escapist, party-driven hip-hop of the time, laying the groundwork for the emergence of socially conscious rap, later embraced by acts like Public Enemy, N.W.A, and Nas.
Beyond the title track, the album delivers a mix of styles. Songs like She’s Fresh and It’s Nasty (Genius of Love) showcase the group’s ability to create funk-driven, danceable tracks, with the latter cleverly sampling Tom Tom Club’s “Genius of Love.” Meanwhile, Scorpio pushes into electro territory, foreshadowing the rise of techno-infused hip-hop and breakdancing culture.
Lyrically, the album is split between braggadocious, old-school hip-hop rhymes and hard-hitting social commentary. While tracks like It’s a Shame follow the traditional boastful style of early MCing, others, particularly The Message, display a raw, unfiltered look at real-life struggles, making it one of the first true examples of conscious rap.
Upon release, The Message was a massive success, both commercially and critically, and remains one of the most celebrated albums in hip-hop history. The title track was added to the Library of Congress’s National Recording Registry, and Rolling Stone has consistently ranked it as one of the greatest songs of all time. The album as a whole paved the way for hip-hop to be seen not just as party music, but as a powerful form of social commentary.
Looking back, The Message is more than just a classic—it’s a blueprint for hip-hop’s evolution, influencing everyone from Run-D.M.C. and Tupac to Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole. It stands as a reminder that hip-hop has always been about more than just beats and rhymes—it’s about telling stories, exposing truths, and giving a voice to those who need to be heard.
40th Anniversary Limited Edition Orange Vinyl Re-Issue
Brand new, never played and still in the factory plastic sealed
Track Listing
The Message
The Message (Instrumental)
