Stage Jacket Formerly Owned by Scorpio of Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five

Like other early Hip-Hop groups, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five had elaborate stage costumes highlighted by flashy custom-made leathers, rhinestones, furs, and tassels. The group’s onstage dress reflected the glam/funk/sci-fi fashions that were popularized in the 1970s by funk musicians Rick James and George Clinton.  

Grandmaster Flash and The Furious 5 expanded the culture of Hip-Hop across the globe with their rapping and DJing skills. Making their debut as a group that performed for local parties in the Bronx then the world, the Furious 5 included Grandmaster Flash (Joseph Saddler, b. 1958), Melle Mel (Melvin Glover, b.1961), his brother The Kidd Creole (Nathaniel Glover, b.1960), Keef Cowboy (Robert Keith Wiggins, b. 1960-1989), Mr. Ness a.k.a. Scorpio (Eddie Morris, b. 1960) and Rahiem (Guy Williams, b.1963) from the Funky 4+1 More. The group is widely regarded as one of the greatest Hip-Hop groups of all time and was the first Hip-Hop group to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2007. With hits like, “Freedom,” “Birthday Party,” and “The Message,” Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five stood out as a unique group due to their ability to finish each other’s rhymes, mixing melodies and harmonies, while also being able to keep the crowd hyped and engaged.