Release of The Message (1 July 1982)

The release of "The Message" on 1 July 1982 marked the turning point at which hip-hop embraced social commentary, with Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five describing the hardships of the inner city over a stark electronic track. It demonstrated that rap could carry the weight of reportage and protest. The event closes the movement's first decade by redefining what the music was for.