The Message

Haven't listened to this in quite a while. It's a bit dated, but holds up pretty well and has obviously had a major influence on hip hop since it was released. Fantastic sampling and instrumentals. "Dreamin'" and "You Are" are pretty terrible though.

Golden age of hip hop

The Message is just iconic. I actually enjoyed the rest as well. A little preachy and more religious than I was expecting.

"Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five" despite there clearly being SEVEN PEOPLE on the album art. Which one is it, huh?! They are clearly trying to hide something from us. I will not stand for it.

A fun, upbeat album!

Knew a few of the songs too, quite enjoyed this one

4 ⭐️

I knew The Message (the song) was good, but I was surprised how much I enjoyed the rest of this too

It's a bit up and down really, and quite a mish-mash. The opening few tunes are funky as shit and a real good time, and then the next few definitely fall off and are a bit weird and dated. Then there's a strange ode to Stevie Wonder, a bit of a soulful ballad.. and obviously The Message, which is back to being upbeat and funky. It's a bit inconsistent, but I had a good time.

This is too old school for me. The beats are great (even if they sound a bit dated) but the lyrics are not amazing. Not sure I needed the soul numbers included.

Klassikkobiisi päätää muuten aika keskiverron old school-levyn. 3/5

I've known the Message for a while now, everyone has, but what I wasn't expecting was this goofy little album attached to it, and I still don't know if I mean that as an insult or not. It's never a dull moment, you got the early stages of hip hop, you have some disco elements, you have synthesized voices that would make Kraftwerk blush, and oddly you have ballads and gospel. Everything here doesn't fit together at all, but they try and smash it together in such a way where it's kind of like watching a movie so bad it's good. Except, this hypothetical film has a relatively profound albeit dated ending that shaped its genre long after. The gospel track genuinely made my jaw drop when I realized what was happening, and nearly every track before it (especiallt including that Stevie Wonder track) wasn't far off in terms of my sheer bewilderment. It actively feels BAD, but I was having a good time, and I guess that has to count for something? I don't know, stick with the titular track if you're looking for serious origins of hip hop and not something to laugh at for thirty minutes. Honestly? Funnier than most hip hop skits of the 90s.

The Message Instrumental is the highlight. Not really my favorite sound, but a funky 80s album. Can't say I didn't enjoy it once

Sounded Very 80's, huge emphasis on every beat. Did not mind the flow.

think we'll ever meet Stevie?

Terrible Stevie Wonder tribute followed up by an even worse thing after it.
Might have been a 5 if those for those.

Only people who don't love their mothers could hate this. Classic old school hip hop that you'll think you heard elsewhere because most of it was eventually resampled.

She's Fresh, It's Nasty and Scorpio (especially Scorpio) are agreat time. Didn't love the R&B/slow-jam middle. THe Message everyone remembers, and sadly really nothin' has changed. This version finishes up with The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash, very very cool, ya gotta hear it. Definitely agree that this is an album you have to hear before you die. Glad I didn't die before I heard it. 😬

Mmmm The Message la influencia clave en el hip hop. Uff hay unos bajos de los que lo mismo aprendió mucho Flea. Me gustó Scorpio, It's a shame y por supuesto The Message (en mayúsculas).

It's Nasty: that hook again! -- this is where I learned it came from the Tom Tom Club, Genius of Love.
Very groovy, fun listening for the first couple tracks.
Scorpio was weird. Then Dreamin'/You Are were like R&B ballads, took me by surprise. Feels disjointed.
And then The Message has the hook sampled by that "girls is players too" song! Iconic.
Overall maybe a 1.5 for me, 1*.

I was expecting this to be a purely hip hop affair, but it's quite a rollercoaster ride, hopping genres all over the place - from funk to electro to r&b ballads to gospel, and yes of course, the primordial ooze from which hip hop evolved is here as well. The song "The Message" is practically a template for the hip hop that would come to dominate in its wake. It's the keystone of modern hip hop, upon which everything else was built. I actually found this album quite impressive in its versatility, and was entertained not knowing exactly what would come next.

Iconic. Definitely an album that everyone interested in hip-hop should know just for its place in the genre's history if nothing else. It's just a fun listen even setting that aside though. A bit dated sounding but way less than you'd think for something over 40 years old.