Happy Birthday, Grandmaster Flash

Grandmaster Flash turned 51 yesterday.

Ten Reasons Grandmaster Flash Totally Rules:

10. In 2007, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five were the first hip hop/ rap artists to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

9. Flash formed the Furious Five with, among others, Mele Mel. (ahem)

8. Grandmaster Flash was the first artist to play the turntable like an instrument.

7. He wears a hat better than you.

6. “Do not let any record company disturb your creative flow. You are not writing for the record company. You’re writing for the public.” — Grandmaster Flash

5. He started mixing because he couldn’t break dance.

4. His boombox is bigger than yours.
3. For making coke seem like a completely stupid thing to do in “White Lines.”

2. “The Message”
Don’t push me ’cause I’m close to the edge
I’m trying not to loose my head
It’s like a jungle sometimes
It makes me wonder how I keep from going under

And the #1 Reason Grandmaster Flash Totally Rules…
1. He took the name GRANDMASTER FLASH.