Grandmaster Flash

Born Joseph Saddler in New York City in 1958, pioneering rapper Grandmaster Flash rose to fame in the early 1980s as frontman for the Furious Five, an influential Bronx-based hip-hop ensemble known for its innovative turntable techniques.

Thanks to famed singles such as "The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash on the Wheels of Steel," "White Lines (Don't Don't Do It)," and "The Message," Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five became one of the best-known rap groups of the early '80s, popularizing the genre among mainstream audiences worldwide.

In 1984 Grandmaster Flash parted ways with the Furious Five, making his solo debut with 1986's The Source. After fading from public consciousness in the late '80s, Flash made a comeback in the 1990s as the elder statesman of hip-hop, endorsing clothing and rap compilations and appearing in top music magazines. In 1997 he released his first full-length album in years, Right Now.

RollingStone.com