Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five “The Message” (Sugar Hill Records)

“Don’t push me, ’cause I’m close to the edge…”

Released in 1982, “The Message” by Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five was a turning point in hip hop — a sharp shift from party rhymes to poetry with purpose. With vivid lyrics delivered by Melle Mel, the track painted an unflinching portrait of inner-city life, capturing the struggle, tension, and survival that shaped a generation.

Produced by Sylvia Robinson and released through her groundbreaking label Sugar Hill Records, “The Message” proved that hip hop could be a voice for the voiceless — not just beats and brags, but truth. Its haunting synth lines and minimalist groove gave space for the words to hit, and they still hit today.

The original Sugar Hill 12-inch label, with its handwritten-style script and sky-blue background, is faithfully reproduced on this tee — a tribute to the moment hip hop grew up and found its soul.

It’s more than music — it’s The Message. Wear the record that made rap real.

• 100% combed and ring-spun cotton (Heather colors contain polyester)
• Ash color is 99% combed and ring-spun cotton, 1% polyester
• Heather colors are 52% combed and ring-spun cotton, 48% polyester
• Athletic and Black Heather are 90% combed and ring-spun cotton, 10% polyester
• Heather Prism colors are 99% combed and ring-spun cotton, 1% polyester
• Fabric weight: 4.2 oz (142 g/m2)
• Pre-shrunk fabric
• Shoulder-to-shoulder taping
• Side-seamed

Size guide