Rapper known for being part of Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five, one of the genre's seminal groups. They're known for the singles "The Message" and "White Lines (Don't Don't Do It)." After The Furious Five, he released several albums as Grandmaster Melle Mel.

Before Fame

He was one of the original five rappers in the group, which formed in 1978. They released their first album in 1979.

Trivia

He was one of the original artists to call himself MC. He's credited as one of the main writers of "The Message," which paved the way for social commentary in rap.

Family Life

He was born Melvin Glover. His brother Nathaniel (Aka The Kid Creole) was also one of the Furious Fives. Their mother was part Cherokee.

Associated With

He and Grandmaster Flash get involved in a legal dispute over the use of the group name Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five, with Mel claiming that Flash's monopoly on his own named has harmed the earning power of the rest of the group.