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It's
safe to assume that most people have at least heard of Grandmaster
Flash. Considering that Grandmaster Flash essentially invented
the concept of the modern hip-hop DJ, ushering in an entirely
new form of music, it is completely appropriate and deserved
that his name should be well-known. Now, the godfather of
DJs has sat down to write his memoir to fill people in on
the rest of his adventures.
The
Adventures of Grandmaster Flash sums up the life of Mr.
Joseph Saddler from his youth in the Bronx through the writing
of the book. It covers his time as essentially an orphan at
the Greer School in Upstate New York, his forays into electronics
and vocational high schools, building his first sound system,
collecting records, playing shows in the park, inventing the
art of beat-matching and "cutting," forming "Grandmaster Flash
and the Furious Five," and all the trappings that come with
such fame.
The book
does, sadly, suffer from those fame-trappings. If one
were to take a moment to guess the type of events and conflicts
that would be present in a music memoir, one could probably
guess exactly what happens in Adventures: the same
stuff that happens in every music memoir. Of course
the record company is going to be shifty and screw over the
band on publishing rights and writing credits. Of course
the sudden burst of fame, taking Flash from the South Bronx
in 1975 to international fame, is going to spur him to drug
use. Of course there's going to be a scene where he
lives through rock bottom. Besides, if he didn't live through
rock bottom, he wouldn't exactly be writing the book now,
would he?
In addition
to these clichés (if someone's life events can be considered
cliché), his co-writer doesn't appear to be doing Flash
any huge favors, either. David Ritz is something of a professional
celebrity translator, grabbing the fire hose of someone's
celebrity and attempting to direct it into a book. A good
portion of his writing career has been devoted to co-authoring
memoirs for the likes of Etta James, B.B. King, and the Neville
Brothers. And filling out nearly the rest of his catalog are
biographies of other famous R&B/soul musicians. This being
said, it is safe to assume that the publishing companies know
that he is capable of making a readable, entertaining product.
Sadly,
like the record company's go-to people for making "hit" albums,
his style is accessible to a fault. He tries to keep Flash's
personality present in the book, but the writing is full of
gimmicks, isn't terribly nuanced, and is clearly intended
for the lowest common denominator of reader. This way, the
memoir can attract the type of reader who doesn't really like
books but is interested in their favorite celebrity. While
Ritz has attempted to keep Flash's narrative voice intact,
sentences like, "This new scene is weird, it's different,
but I don't have time to reflect: I gotta spin," come across
as almost laughable—more like a bumper sticker than what
Flash would actually say. Additionally, the emotions are largely
telegraphed, relying on "That made me feel…" as opposed to
having the skill to show how he felt through actions, or giving
the reader credit to not need it spelled out.
That
being said, it would be easy to believe that this is not an
enjoyable book. Thankfully, The Adventures of Grandmaster
Flash is partially rescued by Flash's undying and very
real love for what he does. His passion and excitement about
music can't help but pull in the reader. As often as Ritz
allows emotion to be spelled out for the reader, this is not
the case with Flash's music appreciation. Through his "adventures,"
the reader has little doubt as to how important a role music
plays in his life. Digging through South Bronx garbage and
abandoned, burned-out cars to find electronic components and
speakers to build his own sound system, walking all the way
to the Harlem River to see DJ Kool Herc spin records for the
first time, dragging his ratty sound system to a local park
and making deals with gang members just for the opportunity
to share the music he loves with people, expressing gratitude
for the opportunity to do what he loves and to put a smile
on someone's face by sharing his love of music, hearing the
next generation of hip-hop from Eric B. & Rakim and Public
Enemy, knowing that what he started is building and growing
and becoming more important. Those adventures are what
sells the reader on Flash's love and keeps them engaged with
the book despite its lackluster writing.
The
Adventures of Grandmaster Flash may read over-simply,
and a good portion of its subject matter may be extremely
well-worn territory, but it is still capable of delivering
an entertaining (albeit light) product for anyone interested
in modern music history. It is certainly a marred and imperfect
package for such a story, but it is meant to be entertaining,
and it succeeds in that goal. The book's lightness makes it
a bit like literary pop music, but it certainly is not without
its merits. And it's hard not to cheer for someone who is
so passionate and embodies the rags-to-riches story through
his hard work and ability. With the exception of his peak-of-fame
drug problem, and his unusual, unapologetic way of impregnating
women like it was something to do, Flash has lived an honest
life of reveling in the pure enjoyment of music and the unadulterated
joy of sharing that love with people all over the world. Luckily
for the book, there's going to be a part of any music fan
that can relate to Grandmaster Flash's delight in the ability
of music to create a good time.
(July
2008)
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