The Hip-hop culture developed during the 1970s in the Bronx and as we already discussed consisted of four main pillars (we actually missed mentioning graffiti), one of which was of course rap. In the beginning, the Deejays were typically the stars of the show, but in time the Emcees became more and more important. Especially once their lyrics started to include political messages, as opposed to mostly praising their own skills and parties, as was the initial custom. In the early 80ies the subculture had started to become a thing outside the block-parties in poor neighbourhoods where it had all started, and songs were actually recorded and broadcast.

A driving force behind conscious Hip-hop were Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five. The trio of rappers were the first group to call themselves MCs (Masters of Ceremony) and one of them, Cowboy, actually coined the term Hip-hop when he used the sounds to mimick the marching of soldiers in a scat routine for a friend that had just joined the army.

“The Message” was written by staff songwriter Ed Fletcher of Sugarhill Records as a response to the 1980 NY City transit strike, but generally describes the tensions that come along with poverty in the metropolis. It was slower than the typical rap song of the time and ingeniously incorporated elements of various musical styles – funk, disco, dub, electro – while still transporting a loud, strong and clear political, well, message. Originally the group didn’t really want to perform the song, as they were more into party lyrics, but label boss Sylvia Robinson was finally able to convince one of the rappers, Melle Mel. Although the rest of the gang in time would ask to perform as well, they only actually join in for the skit in the end.

The song built the foundation for much of what Hip-hop would become.