Lupe Fiasco, Common, & LL Cool J Spread 'The Message' with Grandmaster Flash

Lupe Fiasco, Common, and LL Cool J joined Grandmaster Flash, Melle Mel, and rapper Scorpio for a special performance of “The Message” at Wednesday’s Grammy nominations special. The seminal recording by Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five was newly inducted into the GRAMMY Hall of Fame.

“It’s the quintessential classic hip-hop record—from the beat to the rhymes to the concept to the consciousness that’s in the record to the reality, it’s like a window into the world,” said Lupe. “That’s what it was back then and you can play the record now and it’s still relevant.”

Rick Ross, who was scheduled to perform, was noticeably absent. However, Nicki Minaj got in on the action when LL passed her the mic in the audience.

[MWP]