Hip-hop veteran Grandmaster Flash released his eagerly anticipated autobiography, 'The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash: My Life, My Beats,' this month.
Perfect timing for Black Music Month.
Written with acclaimed biographer David Ritz, the tome chronicles the man legally known as Joseph Saddler's ascension to the heights of rap stardom to losing millions at the hands of his record label, his downward spiral into cocaine addiction, and his ultimate redemption with the help and love of his family and friends.
BlackVoices.com's very own Brennan Williams sat down with the legend to talk about the new book ... and more.
1. What inspired you to write a book detailing the ins and outs of your life?
"Every now and then amongst my staff and my family I always talk about this thing happened to me. Sometimes it was things that wasn't so good, or I say damn this certain thing happened to me and it was good. For years my people (friends and family) would say to me, 'Flash you should write a book about this.' No way would I write a book about that, either it was considered to be too embarrassing or maybe it was considered too secret. It was at one point where I thought people would pass judgment or blame on me. And then it came to a point where it was made aware to me that, Flash there's somebody out there that went through that. And you could possible help someone. That there was the light bulb that turned it on."
2. Since this is your first book, how did you go about gathering your thoughts and putting it out to the world?
"The writing process was pretty rough, because when I first got the deal, I had said to them that I would feel more comfortable if I was able to sit down with a women to let my pandora box go. Janet Hill (Senior person at the publishing company) had sat me down and said, 'Flash I need to talk to you about a couple of things. And she had said to me, 'I need to introduce you to somebody who I think will be totally qualified to put this story together in the manner that it needs to be put together.' Believing me, I thought it was going to be a woman. When I got the name David Ritz, 'I'm like I'm not talking to no guy about this, I can't let this go to a guy.' Cause I know what it would entail. Eventually I met him, and when we was talking he immediately started trading his stories to me of where drugs took him. And once he started trading his stories to me, I was able to feel more comfortable with him."
3. What was David's process in order for you to open up and reveal your past?"David was excellent! He did a Ray Charles story, he did Smokey Robinson, B.B. King, Marvin Gaye. He had a very excellent way about what he needed. This was not easy at all, for me to tell people about my drug habit, and talk about how my pops beat up on my mom, to the Sugar Hill sh*t. I ducked people (journalists) for over thirty years that would go near this. If you go near it, I found a way to get around you. I just wasn't prepared to let it go, so I had to let go, let God transcend, and look at it. I was apart of it, I was in the tornado at one time, now I stand back from the tornado and look at it and say I was in there. So if I can help people now, that's why I did it.
4. During your time working with David did he ever share with you any of his personal stories of Marvin Gaye?
"Yes, I can't remember exactly all of it. But I can remember him saying, 'Flash, when I sat down with Marvin some of the things I heard had me crying.' I can't go into details of what he talked about. But he said, just going through with Marvin, and going through it with Ray and Smokey Robinson. Some of the tibits of what he told they had in their stories, that sh*t fu**ked me up. But at the same time I said, 'Wow!' My sh*t can't be too much worse than theirs, just my own version of fu**ked up. But their sh*t was tore up like mines. It just became easier and easier to let go with David."
5. In your book you mentioned how Rick James gave you a lot of knowledge on the music industry. And based off of your relationship with him, that eventually lead to the two of you hooking up for his song 'P.I.M.P. The S.I.M.P.' How was it like working with him in the studio?
"It was incredible! And the thing about it is, not just the studio process but just knowing him. Everybody had their perspective, like he was this wild crazy guy. But, I'd never met someone like that who was so fu**ken intelligent. Wasn't nobody able to f*ck with Rick James! From his stage entrance, the way he came on, to the way the crowd went wild. We became really, really close."
6. In the past you and Sylvia Robinson had a fallen out due to business reasons and what not. Since then have the two of you reconcile your differences?
"If I was to see her now I'd give her a hug. There was a point in time where I wouldn't talk to Melle Mel, I can at least talk to him now, cordially. And if he ever got into a situation where he needed something, I would run to his aid. But I would never do business with him. The reuniting of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five will never happen!"
Not even performing together?
"Nope, can't do it! Because all that would do is open up old wounds that I prefer to keep closed. And my most favorite MC of all-time has passed away, which is Cowboy. He was the real voice of the group. He wasn't the most notably, but hands down his voice was the most powerful. He ain't here so it wouldn't even be the same."
7. What are some songs that you are currently listening to in your CD player or iPod?
"I'm into production mode right now because I'm working on this album called 'The Bridge' and I'm trying to get it out by September. I'm listening to this artist named Stravinsky and the name of the song is called 'Rites of Spring,' all that sh*t is what I'm listening to right now. Some Beethoven, I'm listening to things that are off the norm, because that's the way it's always been with me. So I guess right now you can say I'm really deep into some opera."
8. Today in Hip-Hop there's a lot of instruments incorporated into the music. You even have Lil Wayne playing the guitar. Have you listened to his album as of yet?
"His album is amazing! I haven't had a chance to hear the whole thing, but amazing. His song 'A Milli' reminds me of this song that I made back in the 80s called 'Larry's Dance Theme.' It's just a one loop thing happening throughout the track. And with Wayne, what makes him such a genius is, he's having so much fun with it. You can just tell he's on some real, 'F' it, I'm having some fun with this record.' And he exudes that, and when you're listening to him, he goes into these different voices. Me being a producer and an artist, you can tell when he goes into the studio he's all over the place! He's having big fun, I love it! The way he uses his metaphors I'm like, 'Oh, sh*t did he just say that? Believe it or not my son was putting me on to him years ago. He was like, 'pops, there's this guy by the name of Lil Wayne, he makes these mix-tapes...' I'm like who's this Lil Wayne guy? Because back in the early Cash Money days Juvenile, and Baby, those were the big boys. Lil Wayne was way in the back somewhere. And boy was my son right, he's it right now!"
9. Speaking of your kids, how would you say the relationship that you had with your father has affected your relationship with your kids?
"My father was extremely violent with me. I think as the baton passed, I think for me my priorities were screwed up early on. When I knew I was going to be a dad I didn't step right into the position. It took place, she had the baby, we had a child. I didn't step into that mold. I mean I was a baby myself, I was 17, 18 years old. And during those years, mind you, those were the experiential years with me trying to find this science that every DJ on the planet does right now. At that time that's what I was looking for. So I was definitely trying to be a dad, I wasn't really great at it. I didn't become better at being a dad until the kids became older. But it was a rough time for me, I probably wasn't the greatest dad. I would say I was a C minus, but today I'm accepted by all of them."
10. To wrap things up. You mentioned that you're working on your album, 'The Bridge.' Are you going to reach out to any big name artist?
"Yes, I'm still working on it. But so far I have Q-Tip, Big Daddy Kane, Red Café, Fat Joe, and I'm going to go ask some of the big, big guns to bless me with a couple of lines, but not yet. I'm still in the process, I'm either on tour, in the studio, or being a dad. So I'm trying to get this thing done by September, that's what my hopeful wishes are. So we'll see what happens."
