Mr. Ness rocks the best

Grandmaster Flash - Scorpio

The group known as Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five released this vocoder infused slice of electro funk as a single in 1982. Apparently it had some success, exposing the group to a new audience by receiving airplay on "rock" radio stations. Flash, born in Barbados but raised in the Bronx, rose to prominence as a pioneering DJ who -- along with Kool Herc and Africa Bambaatta -- is credited with inventing hip hop. Inventing hip hop, ponder that for a moment. As the role of the MC rose to the forefront of Hip Hop, Flash, after DJ'n with Kurtis Blow for a few years, formed his own group of rappers. They consisted of friend Kieth (Cowboy) Wiggins (who came up with "throw your hands in the air, wave 'em like you just don't care" catch cry), Raheim, Scorpio, Melle Mel and his older brother Kidd Creole. They became known as The Furious Five and together they pushed hip hop into mainstream consciousness with the politically charged single 'The Message'.

Today's track, featured on 'The Message' LP on SugarHill Records, is not what you would call rap. Scorpio, then known as Mr. Ness, is on robot-voice vocals over a steady stream of early synth beats. He certainly doesn't say anything profound but its the 1982 aesthetics that make this track a cool listen.

GMF bio