DeepSummary
This podcast episode preview celebrates the 50th anniversary of hip-hop with a focus on the iconic song 'The Message' by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. The hosts discuss the cultural impact of the song, which vividly portrayed the harsh realities of life in the South Bronx during the early 1980s.
Grandmaster Melle Mel, one of the original members of the Furious Five, shares his perspective on the creation of 'The Message' and how it marked a shift in hip-hop from party music to a more socially conscious and raw expression of urban life. The song's lyrics, with lines like 'rats in the front room, roaches in the back,' resonated with listeners who could relate to the struggles of poverty and neglect.
The preview explores the significance of 'The Message' in shaping the trajectory of hip-hop and giving a voice to the marginalized communities it represented. It also highlights the role of Sylvia Robinson, the founder of Sugar Hill Records, in pushing the group to record the groundbreaking song despite initial skepticism.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- The song 'The Message' by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five marked a pivotal shift in hip-hop, moving away from party music to a more socially conscious and raw depiction of urban life.
- The lyrics of 'The Message,' with lines like 'rats in the front room, roaches in the back,' resonated with listeners who could relate to the struggles of poverty and neglect in the South Bronx.
- Sylvia Robinson, the founder of Sugar Hill Records, played a crucial role in pushing the Furious Five to record 'The Message' despite initial skepticism from the group.
- Grandmaster Melle Mel, an original member of the Furious Five, provides firsthand insights into the creation and significance of 'The Message.'
- The episode celebrates the 50th anniversary of hip-hop by exploring the cultural impact of this groundbreaking song and its influence on the genre's trajectory.
- The raw and unfiltered lyrics of 'The Message' captured the harsh realities of life in the South Bronx, resonating with listeners and marking a departure from the party music that dominated hip-hop at the time.
- The episode highlights the significance of giving a voice to marginalized communities through the socially conscious lyrics of 'The Message.'
- The song's impact in shaping the direction of hip-hop towards a more socially conscious and real depiction of urban life is a central theme.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “Broken glass everywhere, people pissing on the stage, you know, they just don't care. I can't take the smell.“ by Grandmaster Melle Mel
- “Nobody wanted to do the record, and Miss Sylvia Robinson made she rest in peace. She was so fixated on doing this particular record. If it was something that she wanted to do, this was the record that you had to be a part of this record.“ by Grandmaster Melle Mel
- “That's when the dynamics and the paradigm of what hip hop is, has shifted.“ by Grandmaster Melle Mel
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Episode Information
Rachel Maddow Presents: Ultra
Rachel Maddow, MSNBC
2/9/23
This Black History Month, MSNBC’s “Into America” podcast celebrates the 50th anniversary of hip-hop with a special mini-series, “Street Disciples: Politics, Power and the Rise of Hip-Hop.” Hosted by Trymaine Lee, the series explores how our country’s political and economic forces shaped half a century of hip-hop, and how over time, hip-hop shaped America. Listen to a preview of the second episode featuring hip-hop legend Melle Mel, the man behind “The Message,” and follow the series: https://link.chtbl.com/iambhm_fd