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Grandmaster Flash

Matt Everitt talks to Grandmaster Flash about the key musical moments of his life and career, including his time pioneering the hip-hop movement.

Hip hop pioneer Grandmaster Flash shares his musical milestones with Matt Everitt in a programme first broadcast in 2014.

There's a strong argument that hip hop started at the block parties in the Bronx in New York in the 70s, where lyrical, musical and technical innovation propelled the sound forward with an impetus that changed the world. Joseph Saddler, soon to known as Grandmaster Flash, was there.

Born in Barbados, but moving to NYC, an absolute obsession with music, vinyl and electronics led Flash to experiment with amplifiers and turntable mechanics and techniques, enabling him to open up a whole new world of scratching, cutting, back-spinning and punch phrasing. His skills as a DJ led to the groundbreaking 1981 track The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash on the Wheels of Steel, the first time scratching and mixing had appeared on record.

Flash, recalls his journey from bedroom equipment geek to sonic adventurer, covering the early records that shaped his musical aesthetic and the release of The Message. He also talks about his battles with substance abuse, his difficult relationship with the record industry and his feelings about his status as one of the architects of modern music.

1 hour

Last on

Wed 14 Sep 2022 02:00
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 6 Music

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Music Played

  • Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five

    Super Rappin' No 2

    • single.
    • Enjoy.
    • ER-6011.

  • Miles Davis

    Bitches Brew

    • Bitches Brew.
    • Columbia.
    • C2K-65774.

  • Charles Earland

    MORE TODAY THAN YESTERDAY

    • single.
    • Prestige.
    • 45-732.

  • Columbia Symphony Orchestra

    Le sacre du printemps (The Rites of Spring): no 1, Part 1 Introduction

    • The Essential Igor Stravinsky.
    • Sony Classics.
    • S2K-89910.

  • Nelson Riddle

    THEME FROM ROUTE 66

    • Route 66 & Other Great TV Themes.
    • Capitol.
    • 724353841324.

  • Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five

    The Adventures Of Grandmaster Flash On The Wheels Of Steel

    • The Adventures Of....
    • Castle.
    • CMETD1318.

  • Bob James

    Take Me to The Mardi Gras

    • Cutmaster Swift Presents the Breaks.
    • Harmless.
    • HURTLP-015.

  • Michael Jackson

    Don't Stop Til You Get Enough

    • Off The Wall.
    • Epic.
    • B00-002663J.

  • DJ E-Z Rock & Rob Base

    It Takes Two

    • The Mash Up Mix.
    • Ministry of Sound.
    • MOSCD-135.

  • Eminem

    Lose Yourself

    • 8 Mile.
    • Interscope.
    • x-x.

  • Camp Lo

    Luchini Aka (This Is It)

    • single.
    • Profile Records.
    • PRO-7458-0.

  • Grandmaster Flash & Furious Five

    Grandmaster Flash & Furious Five - The message

    • Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five.
    • Sugar Hill Records.
    • 6.25 644.

  • Quincy Jones

    Killer Joe

    • FINEST HOUR.
    • VERVE.
    • 490-667-2.

  • Otis Redding

    Hard to Handle

    • Atlantic.

  • Slowdive

    Catch The Breeze

  • Kraftwerk

    The Robots

    • Cleopatra.

  • Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

    Don't Do Me Like That

    • MCA.

  • Holloways

    Generator

    • CD SINGLE.
    • TVT.

  • Humanoid

    Stakker Humanoid (12" Original)

    • Westside Records.

Broadcasts

  • Sun 9 Nov 2014 13:00
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 6 Music
  • Sun 28 Jan 2018 04:00
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 6 Music
  • Thu 6 Jun 2019 01:00
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 6 Music
  • Mon 1 Jun 2020 04:00
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 6 Music
  • Thu 2 Sep 2021 02:00
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 6 Music
  • Wed 14 Sep 2022 02:00
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 6 Music

The first record I ever bought… by Noel Gallagher, Janelle Monae, Florence Welch, Thom Yorke, Elton John and many more

A selection of major artists reveal their first musical purchase.

Podcast

  • The First Time With...

    Interviews with major artists revealing the moments and songs that shaped their careers.