SCORPIO from Grandmaster Flash and the FURIOUS FIVE

Legendary American Hip Hop Recording Artist

About
Barshon

Stoney Barshon Gibbs, today known as the “Ethiopian King”, was born in Queens, NY and lived in the Queensbridge Projects. During his time in Queensbridge, Barshon became known as one of the first MC’s who brought Hip Hop to the forefront of the Queensbridge Projects. He was one of the first to have played with the legendary Marley Marl and is credited with giving him the name he has today.

In 1978, Barshon and TJ Swan formed a group of MCs known as Sure Shot Crew. Later on, TJ Swan and Barshon formed the group The Jazzy 4, with the first female MC to come out of Queensbridge, MC Dimples Dee. His career continued when he formed a Hip Hop battle group, The Sunshine Boys, who performed from 1981 to 1983.

After The Sunshine Boys, Barshon ventured off, leaving Queensbridge moving to the Bronx, NY. Here he began working with the legendary Grandmaster Flash and the Furious 5. Barshon is proud and honored to be a part of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious 5, the first Hip Hop group to be inducted into the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame in 2007. In 2021, the group was once again honored with receiving a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

Barshon “The Ethiopian King” still performs to this day with Mele Mel and Scorpio, from Grandmaster Flash and Furious 5. Most recently Barshon has worked with The Sugar Hill Gang as well as recorded the song, “Someone Like You”.

SCORPIO'S
Awards

SCORPIO, GRANDMASTER FLASH AND THE FURIOUS 5 ARE A LEGENDARY GROUP. A LEGEND AND TRENDSETTER WHO CREATED THE RAP AND HIPHOP INDUSTRY

FIRST HIP-HOP ACT INDUCTED INTO THE ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME
AWARD FOR GRANDMASTER FLASH AND THE FURIOUS FIVE CONTRIBUTION TO MUSIC AND CULTURE
THE GRAMMY LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD 2021 (MARCH 2021)
ASCAP BLACK HISTORY MONTH FEBRUARY 2021

Story
THE FURIOUS FIVE

Scorpio and The Furious 5 are a legendary American hip hop group.

Considered to be trendsetters, and pioneers, contributing to the multi-billion dollar rap industry and sub-culture, known as Hip Hop. Scorpio and The Furious 5 are to Hip Hop what The Rolling Stones are to Rock. As a member of Grandmaster Flash and The Furious 5, Scorpio toured the world with many well-known bands and artists including U2, The Police, The Clash, Prince & Duran Duran, as well as many Hip Hop greats. Their recordings are amongst the most sampled in the history of Hip Hop, creating a catalog well before Hip Hop became mainstream, creating a benchmark for new artists.

Scorpio along with Grandmaster Flash & The Furious 5, became a household name, following the success of records like “Freedom”, “The Message”, “White Lines”, ‘’Super Rappin’’, ‘’Beat Street”, “New York, New York”, “Survival,” - ‘’Scorpio’’, and ‘’Larry’s Dance Theme’’ to name a few.

Quincy Jones applied one of their vocal talents for his Grammy-winning albums “Back On The Block” and “Q’s Jook Joint”, respectively. One of The Furious Five lent their voices to the legendary Chaka Khan for her Grammy-winning single “I Feel For You”. A highlight of their career is the performance of the anti-apartheid song “Sun City”, created by Bruce Springsteen guitarist Steven Van Zandt. On that project, they performed along with Eddie Kendricks and David Ruffin of The Temptations, Ruben Blades, Miles Davis & Herbie Hancock.

Scorpio, Grandmaster Flash & The Furious 5 were honored in 2004 on The Bronx Walk of Fame, with a street named after them. In 2007 they became the first rap group ever inducted into The Grammy’s Hall of Fame. “The Message” was the first rap song that contained social commentary and is in the archives of the Library of Congress for its social relevance and is considered to be one of the most influential songs in the last 50 years

In 2012, Rolling Stone Magazine awarded “The Message”, the #1 greatest Hip Hop song of all time. They have recently been awarded ASCAP Black History month February 2021 - Award in Grandmaster Flash And The Furious Five contribution to music and culture (February 2021) and coming up the prestigious ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ at The Grammys in March 2021.