Who released the 1982 hip-hop single "The Message" with Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five?

Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five released the 1982 hip-hop single "The Message."

The song was written primarily by Ed Fletcher, better known as Duke Bootee, with rapper Melle Mel contributing and performing the best-known verses. Its stark depiction of poverty, crime, and urban pressure helped establish socially conscious rap as a powerful commercial form.

Although the group name leads the title, Grandmaster Flash himself did not perform on the recording. The track was issued by Sugar Hill Records and became one of the label's defining releases. Its refrain, "Don't push me 'cause I'm close to the edge," became one of rap's most recognizable lines.

Some listeners assume the group created every part of the track collectively, but the songwriting and performance credits are more specific. "The Message" is often cited as an early landmark in political and conscious hip hop, influencing artists far beyond its original New York scene.