In 1981, Grandmaster Flash took his superior Dj skills and committed them forever to vinyl, releasing "The Steel" on Sugar Hill Records. The next year, 198, brought the release of several important records. Afrika Bambaataa and Soul Sonic Force released "Planet Rock", Brooklyn rappers Whodini released "Magic's Wand" and Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five scored a huge hit with "The Message".



"The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash on the Wheels of Steel"

"The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash on the Wheels of Steel" was first rap record to bring the real sounds of live Dj scratching to vinyl. Flash created a sonic collage that mixed fragments of tunes from groups like Chic, Queen and Blondie, using three decks. The result was a record that not only stunned the rap community of the time, but continues to resonate today.

"Planet Rock"

Inspired by "Trans-Europe Express", a track by German avan-electronic artists Kraftwerk, Afrika Bambaataa and Soul Sonic Force created the revolutionary record "Planet Rock", the first-ever techno-hip hop hybrid. Showcasing a funky fusion of style, "Planet Rock" was an immediate hit. By adding a synthesizer, Bambaataa and Soul Sonic Force brought a fresh, never-before-heard, electronic sound to hip hop equation, demonstrating that the genre could go in entirely new directions.



"Magic's Wand"

Released by Brooklyn-based rappers Whodini, "Magic's Wand" was another elctro-hip hop hit. A tribute to the DJ and host of the popular radio show Mr. Magic's Rap Attack, the song was immensely popular in England and the United States.

"The Message"

When Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five released "The Message" in 1982, it was an immediate sensation. Gone were the lighthearted party vibes and the "wave your hand in the air like you just don't care" lyrics that characterized most hip hop at the time. Instead, rapper Melle Mel delivered a Blistering socio-political message, rapping about poverty, crime and ghetto life, topics that were previously unheard of in the hip-hop mix.