Grandmaster Flash

Grandmaster Flash (Joseph Saddler, born in 1957 in the South Bronx, New York City) is regarded as one of the founding fathers of hip-hop. As a pioneer, he transformed the turntable into a fully-fledged instrument and laid the foundation for techniques such as cutting, scratching and beat juggling with his Quik Mix Theory. On 17 October he performs at Nieuwe Nor.

In the early 1970s he tinkered with his gear and developed a sound that became the blueprint for generations of DJs and producers. With Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, he brought hip-hop from the streets to a broad audience - with The Message as an absolute milestone, a track that permanently changed the genre.

His impact is widely recognized: he was the first hip-hop act ever inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and the Polar Music Prize. Tickets are available from Wednesday 13 May at 10:00.