Spinning Stories: Episode 4 – The Message” by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five

In Episode 4 of Spinning Stories, Derek Bullard drops the needle on one of the most groundbreaking tracks in hip-hop history—“The Message” by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. Released in 1982, when hip-hop was still centered around parties and breakbeats, this track broke all conventions. It wasn’t about celebration—it was a raw, unfiltered look at poverty, crime, and urban struggle in the Bronx. For the first time, rap became a platform for truth, reflection, and social commentary. With its haunting lyrics and hypnotic beat, The Message opened the door for generations of artists like Public Enemy, N.W.A, and Nas to use hip-hop as a powerful voice for the voiceless. Derek explores how this single track transformed the genre from party music to protest poetry—and why, even 40 years later, its message still hits hard. Because some records don’t just make you dance. They make you think.

Spinning StoriesEpisode 4 Furious five Grandmaster Flash Spinning Stories