Grandmaster Flash

A RECENT SURVEY suggests that up to 62% of the world's population is now a famous DJ. In hotspots like Shoreditch, it's easier to find a turntable legend that a fresh pint of milk. So it's quite an honour to meet the man who first filled the position. Twenty years ago we saw Grandmaster Flash behind the decks wearing a zappy leather outfit of studs, shoulder pads and lightning bolts. He was touring the world with his MCs, the Furious Five, and their record The Message was tearing up charts everywhere. We could just about get our heads around the idea that the Furious Five didn't sing – instead they did this weird rhythmic talking they called "rapping". But we were utterly confused by the idea of DJ who performed like a musician, let alone a DJ who was famous. What did this Grandmaster chap actually do?