Grandmaster Melle Mel and the Furious Five “Beat street” live in Alabama 1985

Melle Mel is one of the most prolific figures of the early New York hip hop culture and is responsible for setting the standard of what it means to be an MC.

In my opinion Melle Mel is one of the people that you could say started lyricism. He has been listed by many of the Golden era’s rappers as an inspiration and was the first rapper to put out a track with conscious lyrics in the form of “The Message”. Here is some footage of Grandmaster Melle Mel & The Furious Five performing their track “Beat Street” with a full live band. “Beat Street” was the single form the sound track of the film “Beat Street” and was released in 1984. Set in the South Bronx New York the film also features several early hip hop pioneers including Africa Bambatta, Doug E Fresh, DJ Kool Herc,The Treacherous Three, Rock Steady Crew, and The New York City Breakers.