Grandmaster Flash, born Joseph Saddler on January 1, 1958, in Barbados, is a pioneering figure in hip-hop. As the founder of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, he introduced innovative DJ techniques that revolutionized the genre. Their 1982 hit "The Message" was the first hip-hop recording inducted into the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress. In 2007, he became the first hip-hop artist inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. His contributions have earned him numerous accolades, including the 2019 Polar Music Prize and honorary doctorates in Fine Arts and Music. ([aaespeakers.com](https://www.aaespeakers.com/keynote-speakers/grandmaster-flash?utm_source=openai))