Search the Fresh Air Archive

Close Search

Rapper Melle Mel

When the hit rap song "The Message" by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five came out 20 years ago, many rappers regarded it as an inspiration as well as a political message. Now "The Message" has been selected as one of the greatest songs of all time by the Library of Congress, and has been added to the National Recording Registry. Melle Mel was the original vocalist on the song. This interview first aired August 4, 1992.

20:40
Queue

Guest

Host

Related Topic

Other segments from the episode on January 31, 2003

Fresh Air with Terry Gross, January 31, 2003: Commentary on Norman Mailer; Interview with Norman Mailer; Interview with Melle Mel; Review of two new television series ABC’s “Dragnet,” and NBC’s …
Queue
15:37

Writer Norman Mailer

His books, including The Naked and the Dead, Armies of the Night and The Executioner's Song, have established him as one of America's most important authors. We'll talk about his career, and his work. His new book is The Spooky Art, to be released today, on his 80th birthday. This interview first aired October 8, 1991. reviews two new series: ABC’s “Dragnet,” and NBC’s “Kingpin.” Both premiere Sunday.

Interview

Transcript

Transcript currently not available

Transcripts are created on a rush deadline, and accuracy and availability may vary. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Please be aware that the authoritative record of Fresh Air interviews and reviews are the audio recordings of each segment.

You May Also like

Queue
21:47

Rapper Melle Mel Delivers His "Message"

When the hit rap song "The Message," by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, came out ten years ago, many rappers were inspired by its political message. Now "The New Message," an updated version has been released. Melle Mel was featured on both songs. He joins Fresh Air to talk about the direction of rap music today.

Interview
Queue
43:46

A History Of The 'Big' Business Of Hip-Hop

Hip-hop music grew from the streets of Harlem and the Bronx into a multi-billion-dollar industry. Dan Charnas chronicles how hip-hop producers and entrepreneurs changed the music industry and pop culture in The Big Payback.

Interview

Did you know you can create a shareable playlist?

Learn How
Advertisement

Recently on Fresh Air Available to Play on NPR

52:30

How the duo behind 'The Invite' wrote a sex comedy (that's not really about sex)

Screenwriters RASHIDA JONES and WILL MCCORMACK. They're the writing team behind the new film The Invite, directed by Olivia Wilde and starring Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz, and Edward Norton. They've been creative partners for more than two decades, first as co-writers of Celeste and Jesse Forever. JONES is an actor, writer, producer, and director. She won a Grammy for co-directing the documentary Quincy, about her father, Quincy Jones, and recently earned an Emmy nomination for her performance in Black Mirror. MCCORMACK is an Academy Award-winning writer, director, and actor.

Related segments from the Fresh Air Archive:

30:44

Remembering music theater historian Robert Kimball

(1.) ROBERT KIMBALL, the musical historian who rediscovered and rescued music and manuscripts by George Gershwin, Cole Porter, and others – and who co-wrote important books about George and Ira Gershwin, Cole Porter, and Eubie Blake – died last week, at the age of 86. He was the artistic advisor to the Cole Porter and Ira Gershwin estates.

Related segments from the Fresh Air Archive:

See All Recent Segments

There are more than 22,000 Fresh Air segments.

Let us help you find exactly what you want to hear.
Just play me something
Your Queue

Would you like to make a playlist based on your queue?

Generate & Share View/Edit Your Queue