Customer Reviews

Message From Beat Street: Best of

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Like many of you, I've only heard "The Message" prior to purchasing this incredible 'best of' collection. As you probably know, Grandmaster Flash and company were recording the most popular rap songs in the early 80s. Most of these songs are stunningly wild and fun party jams. But in 1982, they released "The Message", which is considered to be the first rap song to be pushed from a novelty party jam, to a chilling prophecy, featuring effective social commentary. Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five built a rock solid bridge for Run-D.M.C. to step in, and push their "Message" even further, which eventually brought the hardcore edge to hip-hop. Whether you know it or now, their presence is still felt to this day, since hip-hop hasn't made that drastic of a leap since Run-D.M.C. (that's quite debatable). It also helped that the production was flawlessly perfect. It featured dub, electro, and R&B that was sure to hook nearly every listener of urban radio.

So if you're in the same boat as me, you're probably asking yourself, "Are their any other good songs from Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five?". Well, the answer is yes. This is probably the best single disc best of collection you'll find from these guys. These are long infectious party jams. Many of which include the artillery of a large emcee battle, such as the epic Furious Five / Sugarhill Gang collaboration of "Showdown". A song I didn't think I'd like given the title, "The Birthday Party", actually turned out to be one of my favorites. Although, "It's Nasty (Genius of Love)" would have to be one of the most under-appreciated rap songs of all time. It's got one of the most clever attacks on the compilation, and will surely please any and all hip-hop lovers. They do tackle a bit more social commentary on tracks like "New York New York" and "White Lines (Don't Don't Do It)". The latter features hard hitting lyrics about the dangers of drug use, and probably the most effective lyrics in it's time, given the subject matter. The only knock I have on the album is the first track, "Step Off Megamix". It's merely a "megamix" of their most popular songs thrown into one track (recorded in 1994). It would have been nicer if they would have thrown in a old-school jam up front, or at least put this track at the end, since the original versions shine much brighter throughout the remainder of the album.

Overall, if you're into old-school rap, this is a great listen. It's chalk-full of groundbreaking historical material. If you're at all interested in the evolution of rap, from the pre-Run-D.M.C. days, then you owe it to yourself to check this out. One could only be happier about the completeness of this collection.

Oh my god! How could I have overlooked this group for so long? I mean, I'm a true, PURE hip-hop fan from back in the days and I grew up with most of the songs on this CD (the Message, White Lines, New York New York, and Beat Street) and since I have been about 10, I've known that Grandmaster Flash was one of the founding members of hip-hop. But only in my adulthood was I able to really listen and UNDERSTAND the lyrics these brothers spit. When people talk about classics in hip-hop and the great lyricists, they go back only as far as Rakim and KRS-One. But yo, look further, man. Melle Mel was the one who influenced Rakim and you can tell on songs like the Message and especially Beat Street. His words were truly poetry as well as hard and gritty. Even at the beginning of hip-hop, all of today's elements were there: complex lyrics, dazzling cadences, hard-core bang-ya-head-in beats, and real, street rhymes. Not the thug-posturing [stuff] we got today, but Mel, Cowboy, Scorpio...these cats examined in a very real way what it means to be poor and black in this country and didn't flinch from their observations. In that, they continue the great line of Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Curtis Mayfield, Gill-Scott Heron and the like. Even if you're not politically concsious...even if you're a pure hip-hop head like myself, you'll enjoy these fly rhymes the same way you enjoy Rakim, Kook G. Rap, Brand Nubians, Nasty Nas and all the other classic ill rhyme-slayers. If you've heard these songs a million times when you were younger. Don't sleep. Listen to them again and hear what the brothers are saying. You might be pleasantly surpised like me. Peace!

Grandmaster Flash and The Furious 5 were one of the original rap crews, and unlike some old school rap crews, these guys are still fun to listen to. They don't sound outdated at all and I bet you could slip in the track "Freedom" at a party, and before you know it, the floor would be crowded. They were also one of the first crews to rap about problems in the Ghetto, displayed on the all time classic "The Message" which has been sampled by just about every other rapper. It probably doesn't matter if you get this or their other greatest hits collection, I just got this because it was the only one they had at the store I went to. Do yourself a favor and give this a listen, I gaurentee you'll be nodding your head through out the whole CD.

I'd venture to say anyone who drew breath during the years these sensations were released will recognize one of these tracks. They are all the old school of legend, clearly, but they pervaded our culture. When this music hit the scene, we all heard it.

A reviewer mentioned of this collection of the tracks that went before today's versions of urban lyrics-intensive beat-heavy music is refreshingly devoid of misogyny and other forms of violence. Though not short on rage in tracks like "The Message" and "New York New York", these songs are the music of the block party and a good time *will* be had by all. "Shake it. Show no shame." ("Scorpio")

Everything about this album is cool. The mix is an impressive survey in a go-for-broke mix. I close my eyes, and am transported to the roller rink. This music still inspires in me the same giddy feeling it did then.

Wow.
I don't have this particular CD but I do have all but two of the songs. When I looked at the list of tracks, I saw that this is a great collection of songs by the Furious Five. My personal favorites on this CD are The Message, New York New York, Survival, Step Off, and Beat Street. I think the collection would be complete with Adventures of Grandmaster Flash on the Wheels of Steel, Supper Rappin', and Jesse, but this CD is still timeless. Songs such as The Message, New York New York, White Lines, and Jesse convey very powerful messages.

I suggest that anyone who likes music by this CD. Enjoy.

you gotta love the message that beat alone will be sampled for the next 50 years that song alone can hang in any genre.just like white lines straight to the point and no comprimise.very to the point and good solid music back when you had to have your own idenity to be counted unlike now in rap. great and poetic.

Freedom is the classic house party mix. Rappers didn't have to curse or use James Brown samples to get the message across. And, I like long mixes. It's better than getting a 'Best of..' CD with 16 cuts all 2-3 minutes apiece. Just when you start gettin' into the song, it's trailing off...

Yes Indeed. This one here is a must have! Im 31yrs young. I know a thing or two about this rap s...! Melle Mel is the G.O.A.T. this m.c. speaks and you listen...WHY? Because he is saying something! Politics, the community, the system...And of course(drugs) WHITE LINES BABY! Don't do It!!!!

We hear a lot about G.M.F and the furious five, but i'll tell you what they were the best combo of dj's and rappers ever. I was born in the south bronx so i know first hand. But the one thing i need to know is why dosen't anyone have "grandmaster Flash And The Furious Five's On the strength that was on elektra records when they all came back together before keith cowboy passed (rest in peace) they made a record called "fly girl" that to this day is one of the hottest smooth rap records ever NEW Yorks 107.5 wbls fm used to run the record i have it on cassette (not good enough) i also have the asin holla at kleetis61@aol.com

First, of all this is an awesome cd and I would truly recommend anyone who likes classic hip hop to buy this album to remember how awesome Melle Mel really was and is still da bomb today this whole album contains solid hits such as: The Message , The Message II-Survival, and The anthem from beat street these songs alone gives him a 100 star rating I would truly recommend anyone who likes hip-hop or classic hip hop!!!!!