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Grandmaster Flash Rolls Into Rock Hall
- Posted on Mar 1st 2007 7:09PM by Jessica Robertson
"The first time we were nominated, I was like, 'Yaaaay!'" Grandmaster Flash tells Spinner. "Then it was like, 'No, you're not going in.' Then, when we were nominated again, there was less of a 'Yay.' This time, I got a call the day before the announcement from someone on the board that we got in. I always thought it was impossible, that all the other organizations had embraced hip-hop, but that this particular organization wouldn't. It's bigger than Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, though. Hip-hop is in there now, and that's what really counts."
"I personally look at myself as a scientist, and I look at the Furious Five as innovators ahead of their time," he continues. "Ahead of our time, mostly. "
And the trailblazing troupe says there hasn't been a time when they felt the group didn't get well-deserved respect. "I can't remember a period of time when I wasn't mentioned by people who are asked about who inspired them," he says. "When I walk the street, kids who weren't even born when I was making records know who I am. It's a much bigger business now, of course, but it's wonderful to know that I created an industry."
Read our exclusive Q&A with Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five
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Snorri Halldor
This isn't a matter of him being Rock and Roll.. it's about his impact in music. Yes he doesnt play rock but that doesnt mean he shuoldn't deserve being in the Hall of Fame. He's the guy who every musical fan should know. And "rap and crap" .. don't get me started about the ignorance in that comment!
November 16 2007 at 9:10 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Donn Self
Let's see , Chuck Berry , Little Richard , Carl Perkins ,"The"Stones , The Who, Jeff Beck , Jeff Lynne,STEVIE RAY ,JIMI HENDRIX !!!! Could someone tell me where the HELL the rappers fit into the list ? Get a Grip , get an education , get a life . Who the hell is running the joint anyhoo !!!
May 15 2007 at 11:14 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
white power
how the hell can this n*gger babbling shit be in the ROCK N ROLL HALL OF FAME?this is the question everyone wants to no. if it was up to me id have these guys shot so rap wudnt have started or u cud just stay being slaves lol
Evorgleb
I'm still buzzing off of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five being inducted into the Rock of Roll Hall of Fame. It was so big for me when we got to interview Grandmaster Mele Mel over at Highbrid Nation. As a person who grew up on hip hop, I'm just glad to see it being respected.
March 27 2007 at 12:23 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Erik
While it might make sense for Grandmaster Flash to be in there, that ought to be IT as far as rap and hip-hop are concerned. A genre that has deteriorated from making social and political statements to celebrating the denigration of women and the celebration of violence has no business being represented there.
And if they don't induct more women, beginning with Linda Ronstadt and Pat Benatar, they will lose all credibility, if it hasn't happened already.
Jaz
"What the hell is a grandmaster flash? It sure isn't rock and roll. Obviously gangbangers have taken over the rock and roll hall of fame, because they don't have a clue what rock and roll is."
Your ignorance is very ugly Dave, GM Flash & The Furious 5 are pioneers of Hip Hop, they are NOT gangbangers at all and have been around since the lates 70's, most of their songs were anti drug, anti gang messages and they never glorified being a thug or living a lavish lifesyle, do your homework before you are so quick to judge next time.
Tyler
I can think of numerous bands that are some of the most important and influental rock bands to ever live like The Stooges, New York Dolls, T. Rex, and Love, as well as solos artists like Nick Drake and their not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I don't ever let things like this bother me too much because Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is about as meaningless as anything out there. So to put a guy like Grandmaster into the Hall before a lot of other much deserving artist is a joke. Not to mention, that music doesn't belong in there in the first place.
But a guy like Miles Davis who was inducted into the Hall has every right to be in there. People forget that Miles Davis was a heavily influence on Rock music. I suppose bands like early Pink Floyd ['60s era], Soft Machine, Traffic, Spirit, and almost every progessive rock band you can think of was influenced by Jazz music. Miles Davis' Bitches Brew record is the most influental Jazz record on Rock music. Cream and the Jimi Hendrix Experience both had jazz drummers [Mitch Mitchell and Ginger Baker] so to discredit Jazz music in the history of rock music is a joke. Jazz influenced a lot of the great rock bands, including The Byrds. John Coltrane's style influenced Roger McGuinn's classic lead on Eight Miles High.
Folk, Country, Blues and Jazz deserve a place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame because that's what birthed Rock and Roll man.
George
Wow....wtf..in..hell how in the hell do rap stars get in the Hall? Oh yah wait a min I know. Cleavland SUCKS, and the board of directors is mostly BLACK. So here it is whitey STOLE Rock 'n Roll from the black man then made a lot of money from it...... so its really a black form of music and so is rap. They belong together in this hall. Theres been to many WHITE folks getten in gota put the brother up there. This is not bout music its bout maken up for all the things "Da Man" did to the poor ol'black artist. Well hope the REAL Rock 'n Roll ARTISTs pull their stuff out and close it DOWN!
March 13 2007 at 8:08 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Mike S.
I watched the Rock 'N Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony last night and I have to tell you that Grand Master Flash and The Furious Five had the best induction acceptance speech and best preformance of the night. Patti Smith looked like some old hag has been. Van Halen I am not even going there except to say at the least Eddie and Alex should have been there. I was so disappointed they were not there. Eddie Vedder put me to sleep his induction speech was too long. I missed the Ronnettes so I can't comment but Grand Master Flash ROCKED!!!!
March 13 2007 at 3:10 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Average Joe
For whatever reason The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame exists, is one issue. A nonprofit organization making false statements & misleading the public to obtain cash is another more important issue. Obtaining cash donations for a "specific cause" (http://www.rockhall.com/support), then “deviating from that cause”, without informing potential donators, seems to be the far more important “cloudy” issue.
March 13 2007 at 6:35 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Reader Comments(1 of 2)
horacedat 3-04-2007
It's about damn time hip hop is in the hall of fame ... MANY, MANY more to come!@
crystalat 3-04-2007
YES I AGREE!!!! HIP -HOP IS MOST DEFINANTLY MADE A COMEBACK!!! HIP-HOP HAS JUS ROSE FROM THE DEAD!!
Harlowat 3-06-2007
Where in the heck is Todd Rundgren? He should have been inducted years ago.
Phil Aylestockat 3-06-2007
A travesty...he has no business in the hall of fame because he does not do rock & roll
mikeat 3-05-2007
what about kiss???????????????????????????
mikeat 3-05-2007
what about KISS
mikeat 3-05-2007
what about KISS >????????????????
Musicat 3-05-2007
This sucks. Rap is not Rock N Roll.
Somebody that you have forgotten and should of been in a long time ago.
Leon Russell. What's wrong with you guys?
MusicLoverat 3-06-2007
Is the "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame" for real? Can't be legitimized until LINDA RONSTADT is enshrined.
SONNYat 3-06-2007
THIS IS NOT THE HIP HOP HALL OF FAME
jsikat 3-06-2007
The rock and roll hall of fame is about all who made a huge impact in the music world from the rolling stones to nirvana to grandmaster flash. This dude pioneered a whole new genre of music. Whether you like the music or not, you gotta respect that
KG Old Timerat 3-07-2007
I went to the Hall a few years ago but never again. This "Rock and Roll" Hall of Fame is a joke.
I lost interest when Miles Davis made it. And now I give up. Real Rock and Roll doesn't sell out. Who runs this comercial sham?
Paulat 3-07-2007
A guy that "samples" (rips off) music and talks over it is not a rock n roller! Rap and hip hop is not rock music,just like opera,country or jazz is not rock music! Putting this stuff in the R Nr hall of fame is a joke! Create a new hall of fame for them. Urban rapping Hall of fame or something. NOT ROCK N ROLL!!!
Daveat 3-10-2007
What the hell is a grandmaster flash? It sure isn't rock and roll. Obviously gangbangers have taken over the rock and roll hall of fame, because they don't have a clue what rock and roll is.
Dennis Dejakat 3-10-2007
Grandmaster Flash is not rock n roll. They should create their own rap crap hall of fame. Also,there are at least a dozen early rock n roll people and bands that never seem to get nominated. Are the people that create the nominees all under age 30?
George millerat 3-10-2007
Are you kidding!!!! who picks this shit!!! rap is in no way rockn' roll!!!! how in the world does Patti Smith get in Before YES, JETHRO TULL, GENESIS,RUSH,CHARLIE DANIELS,MOTT THE HOOPLE. YES is one of the greatest musical groups ever!!!! this is a fact, they sold out Madison Square Garden over 18 times they are world famous!!!! what kind of bias do you have against them? The fact that they can all actually play their instruments!!! uNLIKE hall member Sid Vicious! what a disgrace!! why don't you right the ship and put in the more deserving Rock Heroes and cut the bullshit!!!!
Paul Wrathat 3-10-2007
Rap is not Rock n Roll!! It's noise pollution!! How can you guys at the hall even consider this as Rock n roll? It's a disgrace. As a fan, I'am ASHAMED.
Average Joeat 3-12-2007
What Is Rock & Roll? What Is Hip Hop?
From The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Website. Its Purpose As Defined at rockhall.com/support:
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame & Museum is a nonprofit organization that exists to educate visitors, fans and scholars from around the world "About The History And Continuing Significance" Of "ROCK AND ROLL MUSIC"!
To "jsik": It doesn't say "ONE Damn Thing" about Hip-Hop! It Says: The History And Continuing Significance Of "ROCK AND ROLL MUSIC"! Not For "pioneers of a Whole New Genre Of Music".
Defined at http://rap.about.com/od/rootsofraphiphop/p/RootsOfRap.htm
Hip-hop: a form of popular music that’s comprised mainly of mc'ing (rapping) and dj'ing. The other two components that complete the four elements of hip-hop are graffiti and breakdancing.
It doesn't say "ONE Damn Thing" about Rock And Roll!
But Hey, NOW that the door is open & The "Blurred Music Lines Clarified, When can we expect to see "Rock & Roll" bands entered into the "Hip Hop Awards" & them Rockin' Away On "BET"? Seems Only Fair, Music Is Music, Right jsik?
Eloise Riversat 3-12-2007
For the uninformed, if a "particular sound" (as in hip-hop or loud head-banging hard rock) sells Rolling Stone magazines, they are gleefully inducted in the RRHOF. If it doesn't -- can you say "original rock and rollers" -- their chances of getting in are slim and none!
Eloise Riversat 3-12-2007
For the uninformed, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame exists for the sole purpose of promoting and selling Rolling Stone Magazines. Rolling Stone Magazine owner, Jann Wenner, is Co-Chairman of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation. If you're an alternative head-banging hard rocker or hip-hopper and appear in the magazine, your chances of getting in the Hall of Fame are multiplied. However, if you're an "original bonafide Rock and Roll artist", your chances are slim and none. Look how long it took The Ronettes.