Grandmaster Flash And The Sugarhill Gang

This isn't the only compilation that pairs Grandmaster Flash and the Sugarhill Gang. In 1997, the Recall label issued a sprawling set with twice as many tracks, but chose quantity over quality. Does anyone buying a hits collection need to hear Sugarhill's "The Lover in You??" Not really. Again, Flash and Sugarhill were paired in 1999, this time by Rhino for a "showdown" with cute post-song commentary by Ice-T and Chuck D. That set made for an entertaining initial listen, but ultimately a tired set bogged down by its massive novelty factor. This U.K. import isn't perfect, but neither is the idea of pairing these two groups. It does have an economical 13 tracks split between the two groups, with only their best moments represented. Topped by a classy packaging that echoes both old-school flier design and new-school graf mags, The Message: The Best of Grandmaster Flash & the Sugarhill Gang is a fine, if non-essential, set. ~ Wade Kergan|