LOS ANGELES, CA. (BET Networks) -- Widely regarded as the architect of Hip-Hop music, Joseph Saddler -- known to audiences as Grandmaster Flash -- will be honored at the BET HIP-HOP AWARDS with the "I AM HIP-HOP" ICON AWARD for his trailblazing contributions to the genre. Flash pioneered the Hip-Hop movement back in the early 70's, one of three credited with defining a culture and musical trend that critics said would never last.
Flash, one of Hip-Hop's greatest innovators, transcended the genre's party-music origins to develop and perfect a style of DJ'ing that has become the foundation for some of today's leading dee jays.
"As an eight-year-old kid coming up, I was able to sit back and watch pioneers such as Grandmaster Flash lay the foundation for Hip-Hop," states internationally known dee jay Kid Capri. "He's an Icon because he was intricate in the development of the blueprint of Hip-Hop. No one was cutting and scratching on the tables like Flash ... he revolutionized the role of the Hip-Hop DJ."
World-renowned celebrity DJ and star of VH-1's Celebrity Fit Club, Biz Markie, adds, "Grandmaster Flash is by far the Einstein of DJ'ing. He was before his time and even when I see him to this day, he continues to fascinate me!"
The BET HIP-HOP AWARDS premieres on Wednesday, November 15th at 9 p.m. ET/PT and is set to tape at Atlanta's historic Fox Theatre. The all-star lineup included host Katt Williams, Diddy, Snoop Dogg, Ludacris, T.I. & Young Dro, The Game, Young Jeezy, Lil Wayne & Baby, Lupe Fiasco, Rick Ross, Remy Ma, Jim Jones, Rhymefest, Sway, Papoose, DJ Scratch, DJ Drama, Saigon and Styles P. among others.
A Bronx brother (by way of Barbados), Flash was the first DJ to use turntables as a musical instrument. His ingenious musical contribution was recently honored by Microsoft founder Bill Gates with the DJ Vanguard Award. Developing his skills in New York clubs and parties in the park, he used duplicate copies of a record to "cut" (mix) them into one another -- a method that eventually led to all the other popular Hip-Hop DJ techniques.
LA's Ubercool DJ AM describes Flash's influence best: "Without Flash, I and many other DJs would not have the style we have and hear today. He is a pioneer and a mastermind. Respect due!"
Stephen Hill, BET Executive Vice President for Entertainment, Music Programming and Talent elaborates on why BET chose Grandmaster Flash as the inaugural "I AM HIP-HOP" ICON: "No one outside of Hip-Hop's birthplace had ever heard anything like the cutting that Flash was doing. He was the first to not only extend the break, but to recreate music using only records. Any break up in rhythm or turntable scratching you hear in music today has its roots with Grandmaster Flash. No question. End of discussion."
Flash's first record, 1981's "The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash on the Wheels of Steel" was the first record ever to feature complex cuts that had folks getting their groove on from The Bronx to Oaktown.
Soon after he established himself as one of the top DJs in the country, Flash, who worked with such Hip-Hop legends as Kurtis Blow and Lovebug Starski, joined forces with several other MCs including Cowboy, Melle Mel and Kid Creole, to form Grandmaster Flash & The 3 MCs. That group soon morphed into Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five when Raheim and Scorpio came aboard. Together they pioneered the popular "freestyle MC battles" back in the day.
Signed to Sugar Hill Records in 1980, Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five recorded one of the most popular Hip-Hop anthems ever -- "The Message." That song, perhaps more than any other Hip-Hop record not only put the music on the map, but also declared Hip-Hop as a genre that is here to stay and as fans of all colors started to embrace this new genre with its pulsating beats and controversial lyrics.
Since then Flash has recorded numerous albums including: "They Said it Couldn't Be Done," "The Source," "Ba-Dop-Boom-Bang," "On the Strength," "Salsoul Jam 2000," "The Official Adventures of Grandmaster Flash" and "Essential Mix: Classic Edition." Flash & the Furious Five disbanded in 1984 and reunited briefly in 1987 and 1994.
The award-winning dee jay's storied career has spanned more than 30 years and he remains at the top of his game today. In addition to his music and his Sirius Satellite Radio show, "Flash Mash," (Saturdays, 5-8 p.m. ET on HOT JAMZ, channel 50) Flash is working on his memoirs.
Given his impact on the Hip-Hop genre and his long list of achievements, honoring Grandmaster Flash at the first-ever BET HIP-HOP AWARDS was a no- brainer. He is to Hip-Hop what Little Richard was to rock n' roll: the creator, the innovator, the keeper of the flame. He has established himself as one of the top DJs in the country and has influenced DJs and rappers around the world.
Top dee jays continue to sing Flash's praises. "Flash is the backbone of hip hop. Before there were bands and drum machines, there was a DJ who would cut over records for an MC to rap over," states DJ Jazzy Jeff, legendary dee jay and onetime partner to rapper-turned-superstar-actor Will Smith. " ... without the DJ, there would be no MCs. Everybody needs to pay respect to Flash. If it wasn't for him, many rappers would not be here."
In his own words, Grandmaster Flash says, "God chose me to use the turntables as an instrument ... I always wanted to create music, but traditional instruments are not what I wanted to use." Flash further explains, "By the use of a turntable, a hand mixer and literally placing my finger on the vinyl, I never realized that I would be changing the way DJs played music forever."
