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album reviews

Eric B And Rakim



The Message 6½ ( 1982 )
She's Fresh / It's Nasty / Scorpio / It's a Shame / Dreamin' / You Are / The Message

As per the recordings by the Sugarhill Gang, the actual Rap content on parts of this LP is neglible. Escaping the funk and disco scene, many of the tracks feature a regular backing band of actual musicians, rather than rap music as many will think of it. The opening 'She's Fresh' for example sounds more akin to a Prince funk/soul crossover than a genuine Rap tune. It's pretty funky, mind you, and makes you singalong, so I've not got any problems with it. But, to call this one of the first actual Rap LPs is perhaps stretching the genre just slightly. Oh, 'She's Fresh' does feature plenty of rapping before those fans of a certain age cover me with petrol and set alight to me. Props to Grandmaster Flash in either case. No only helming 'The Message' but also 'White Lines', two of the greatest and most important Rap songs ever. I actually remember having an argument with a guy named Nick Brooke at work surrounding who was the first genuine rap album artist. I went with Run DMC and he said, 'you're wrong' in that stern yet friendly and not overly offensive 'know it all' way of his. Arguments about music are never good things to get into with me. Anyway, it's all subjective. I would actually call this the first hip-hop LP and Run DMC the first rap album artists, but somebody is going to mail now saying we're both wrong, aren't they. Yes, I know about The Fatback Band, already!

There's a song here, a soul ballad titled 'Dreamin', it's a tribute to Stevie Wonder. It's terrible and sappy and even sounds a little like those dreadful 80s Wonder ballads. Leave it be, already. Two ballads in a row? 'You Are' sounds for all the world like another Stevie tribute. Thank god for 'The Message' or side two of this LP would be entirely forgettable. 'The Message' is not only clearly the best song on the entire album but it still shames much rap output to this day. It's a stone-cold classic. Spooky, funky and wonderfully exciting. It wins the sweepstakes on this Grand National day in our house ( April 14th, 2007 ) in any case.

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White Lines, released by Grandmaster Flash & Melle Mel.
1983 charted at number seven in the UK singles charts.

Step Off, released by Grandmaster Melle Mel & The Furious Five.
1984 charted at number eight in the UK singles charts.

Pump Me Up, released by Grandmaster Melle Mel & The Furious Five.
1985 charted at number forty five in the UK singles charts.

Jesse, released by Grandmaster Melle Mel & The Furious Five.
1984, did not chart, also appears on 'Stepping Off' compilation.

Beat Street, released by Grandmaster Melle Mel & The Furious Five.
1984, charted at number forty two in the UK singles charts.

Vice, released by Grandmaster Melle Mel & The Furious Five.
1985, did not chart.

Freedom, released by Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five.
1981, did not chart.

Birthday Party, released by Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five.
1981, did not chart.

Flash To The Beat, released by Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five.
1981, did not chart.

It's Nasty, Released by Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five.
1982, appears on 'The Message' LP.

The Message, released by Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five.
1982, charted at number eight in the UK and appears on s/t LP.

Scorpio, released by Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five.
1982, appears on 'The Message' LP.

Message II ( survival ), released by Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five.
1983, charted at number seventy four in the UK singles charts.

New York, New York, released by Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five.
1983, did not chart.

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