Grandmaster Flash

Joseph Robert Saddler, born on January 1, 1958, is a Barbadian DJ and producer, widely known as Grandmaster Flash. He is credited with creating the DJ technique known as the Quick Mix Theory, which involved using duplicate copies of vinyl to elongate drum breaks. This technique gave birth to cutting and scratching, revolutionizing the art of DJing. Grandmaster Flash also invented the slipmat. He is the founder and creator of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, the first rap group to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007. He received the Polar Music Prize in 2019, becoming the first hip hop artist to be honored with this prestigious award. Additionally, he has been awarded honorary doctorates in Fine Arts from Buffalo State University and in music from Lehman College in the Bronx, NY.