BLONDIE
This is an example of non-hip hop group that produced a song that became part of the hip hop heritage.
The group's song "Rapture" from the 1980 album "Autoamerican" featured a rap from lead singer Debbie Harry where she mentions both Fab 5 Freddy and Grandmaster Flash.
Fab 5 shows up in the video doing some fake graffiti in the background. The song was hugely successful in both the US and UK.
The group's song "Rapture" from the 1980 album "Autoamerican" featured a rap from lead singer Debbie Harry where she mentions both Fab 5 Freddy and Grandmaster Flash.
Fab 5 shows up in the video doing some fake graffiti in the background. The song was hugely successful in both the US and UK.
FAB 5 FREDDY
Like you don't know who this guy is....
Fred Brathwaite was born in 1959.
He has grown up to be one of hip hop's most popular figures and he's never had a hit single.
F5F's first exposure to hip hop culture was as a graffiti artist in the 70's. He studied painting in college.
He is responsible for introducing Afrika Bambaataa to the uptown hip hop scene.
Freddy was also featured in name and in person in Blondie's 1981 hit "Rapture." Not only does she mention his name in the lyrics, but if you catch the video, you'll see him in the background painting on the wall. Actually he wasn't really painting, but then again, it wasn't a real building anyway.
In 1982, he was part of the first hip hop tour to Europe with Afrika Bambaataa, Rammellzee, Grand Mixer D.ST. & The Infinity Rappers, Rock Steady Crew, the Double Dutch Girls, and graffiti artists Phase 2, Futura, and Dondi.
One of his biggest early achievements was his collaboration with Charlie Ahearn that resulted in the monumental hip hop film Wild Style. Freddy was musical director of the film as well as starring in it himself. It stands as one of the earliest video recording of the hip hop culture as it was developing in the early 80's.
He has a cameo on graf artist Futura 2000's single "Escapades of Futura 2000" on Celluloid 1983.
In 1985, he unsuccessfully auditioned for the roll of Russell in Krush Groove.
He went on to direct several hip hop videos in the mid 80's.
And, of course, in the late 80's Ted Demme of MTV approached him to host Yo! MTV Raps. This exposure launched him into the forefathers of the culture as he was part of the group that introduced hip hop to much of the world.
He also appeared on the song "Change the Beat" on an album by Bill Laswell who also worked with Afrika Bambaataa.
FATBACK
Fatback was basically a funk band that recorded in the 1970's and 80's.
As far as this site is concerned, however, it is one track in particular that lands it a place on this site.
The track is called "King Time III (Personality Jock)". It was released in 1979 and is considered by many to be the first hip hop song in history.
The song was released just before a certain other tune called "Rapper's Delight".
It appears on their 1979 album "XII".
Okay, so maybe he isn't exactly well known for his forays into hip hop, but in 1983 his song "Rockit" from the "Future Shock" album took scratching into the mainstream.
http://www.michaelholman.com/
As far as this site is concerned, however, it is one track in particular that lands it a place on this site.
The track is called "King Time III (Personality Jock)". It was released in 1979 and is considered by many to be the first hip hop song in history.
The song was released just before a certain other tune called "Rapper's Delight".
It appears on their 1979 album "XII".
HERBIE HANCOCK
Okay, so maybe he isn't exactly well known for his forays into hip hop, but in 1983 his song "Rockit" from the "Future Shock" album took scratching into the mainstream.
With the help of Grand Mixer D.ST., Hancock fused hip hop and jazz into a new sound. Many groups today have experimented with the a similar theme. Herbie and D.ST help start it all.
MICHAEL HOLMAN
An often forgotten behind the scenes player in the early days of hip hop, Michael Holman may be remembered best for being "The Host With The Most".
That line is in reference to perhaps his most well known contribution to hip hop - the television pilot "Graffiti Rock."
While it was the only episode every aired, it has found its place in the history of the music to the point where twenty years after its initial run, it was released on DVD. How many so called "failed" tv pilots can claim that?
But this was not his only contribution. He also ran a club called the Negril in the Bronx. He had the Rock Steady Crew perform regularly on Thursday nights. After growing tired of just the RSC, he heard about these b-boy battles taking place. The first battle he hosted pitted the Rock Steady Crew against the Floormasters. He liked the athleticism of the Floormasters and signed on to be their manager, changing their name to The New York City Breakers (hence the reason they were featured on "Graffiti Rock").
He also worked hard to bring graffiti artists together with the main stream art world including working with Fab 5 Freddy.
Michael Holman also wrote a book called "Breaking and the New York City Breakers."
Not bad for a guy who worked on Wall Street as a banker.
http://www.michaelholman.com/That line is in reference to perhaps his most well known contribution to hip hop - the television pilot "Graffiti Rock."
While it was the only episode every aired, it has found its place in the history of the music to the point where twenty years after its initial run, it was released on DVD. How many so called "failed" tv pilots can claim that?
But this was not his only contribution. He also ran a club called the Negril in the Bronx. He had the Rock Steady Crew perform regularly on Thursday nights. After growing tired of just the RSC, he heard about these b-boy battles taking place. The first battle he hosted pitted the Rock Steady Crew against the Floormasters. He liked the athleticism of the Floormasters and signed on to be their manager, changing their name to The New York City Breakers (hence the reason they were featured on "Graffiti Rock").
He also worked hard to bring graffiti artists together with the main stream art world including working with Fab 5 Freddy.
Michael Holman also wrote a book called "Breaking and the New York City Breakers."
Not bad for a guy who worked on Wall Street as a banker.
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