Artist
Melle Mel
MC with the Furious Five, often credited as the first rapper to call himself an 'MC.' Born Melvin Glover, his verses on 'The Message' in 1982 established rap as a vehicle for social and political commentary. He was the only member of the Furious Five to actually rap on the track, delivering Duke Bootee's grim lyrics about inner-city life over a slow, seething electronic beat. Many rappers regard 'The Message' as an inspiration and political statement that proved hip-hop could be more than party boasts. The track's chorus was described by critics as 'a slow chant seething with desperation and fury,' capturing the reality of life in the Bronx during the Reagan era.