Grandmaster Flash - White Lines

orig. 1983 (homemade videomix@2012@VJ Kall)

[@Islandgirlsuzanne]

Honestly one of the best songs taking me back to the 80’s. No stabbings, no shooting in the dance clubs. Just good fun!!

[@SOMeDoOD1992]

only coke

[@deeohen8344]

Well, I'm in my 50s and I don't know where you grew up but apparently you weren't in any major American city. Violent crime in the 80's (and early 90s) was WAY higher than today. Not to mention once crack hit the scene, the gangs and murders got 50x worse. Fun fact: Back then, NYC + Chicago + LA = 5000+ murders a year. In 2022, those three totaled less than 1500.

[@conradwilliams8651]

5,000 murders 😂 that’s the coke you’re snorting

[@orangewarm1]

Not if you lived in the South Bronx.

[@everythinggamingnow]

no violence, just gangs and cartels fueling the world with cocaine and murdering and disposing of anyone that got in their way. Such vibes!!

[@readynow12345]

I can't believe that this song is not in the billions view.

[@crimsonsigma5531]

The spirit of the 80s, 90s and early 2000s live on forever

[@hellundertheEL]

🔥 still one of the greatest songs EVER... still jammin in 2023

[@josephclift3662]

The dancing is still unbelievable. Such invention and athleticism

[@nobrainsnoheadache2434]

Michael who?

[@kathleenmuchka2559]

To think my generation came out with break dancing. Some in their 60s now and can still do this. Talk about muscle memory.

[@GG-vy1oy]

Gen X

[@fergusreid5053]

Breakdancing actually was started in new orleann

[@RKID]

I am 51 now and still can do some movements😉

[@nobrainsnoheadache2434]

@@RKID so can I, I just can't get up off the ground lol

[@andymyers2857]

I was of the age when this style of music and breakdancing came through and I was always gutted I couldn't grasp breakdancing at all, no matter how hard I tried and was a little jealous of my mates who could. Enjoyed watching the challenges though between rival schools etc. I always remember the teachers hated anyone caught practicing during break times. Fantastic memories.

[@carlosbernalism]

The message, the voice, the music, the groove, the composition...chills.

[@user-dz2cf5mv8i]

Q​@@arujkhan1459

[@cmc8375]

Love this song and the break dancing! 🎶💙✊

[@mikegreene8285]

ahh to be that young again. awesome song

[@fowleheidi482]

Thanks for a trip back to the 80's!

[@LionPelt]

“It’s hard as hell to fight…don’t buy it.” This song makes me wish I could do all these dance moves 😄

[@wafldread2770]

Best anti drugs song ever... 😁

[@TongueOut]

Against the crack!

[@danh6948]

😳 This is the proper white lines emoji....

[@rochwind1448]

yup. put that in yer pipe n smoke it. losers.

[@rickyrudd28texacohavolinef2]

@@danh6948😤I nominate this emoji as my the Unofficial Tony Montoya one. 🌬️💨 Lol🤣

[@SOMeDoOD1992]

Ironically when this was played in clubs in the 90's everyone did a line when this song came into the playlist

[@stiofandundealgan1280]

Still a modern great tune after all these years !

[@KidneyMush]

I remember listening to this when I was in my 90s, now I’m 133 and it still kicks ass

[@TheFlooring111]

A masterpiece at the time and still a masterpiece class never fades loved sugarhill and everyone involved

[@trixiedelight9874]

Still to this day...absolutely perfect. As a dancer...this was and always will be 💫💫

[@bboybreaks6487]

When hip hop was new fresh and exciting. 51 now, been into hip hop/rap since 1981. Wish i wasn't born in the UK so i could witness the birth of hip hop in the Bronx block parties in the 70's.

[@theredjediknight]

They played at a Festival in our local park some years ago. This song went down an absolute storm, with most of the crowd off their faces on something!

[@oldschoolleeds81]

Still a classic, cocaine bear bringing it back to the masses is 😊🎉

[@user-or1dd1iv5q]

The best 80

[@KiritPankhania]

A masterpiece

[@vicvega1008]

this song kicks ass...80s best array of music ever

[@justinobrien3593]

I first heard this about 1983 on the radio but it was edited i was only 11 I went out and bought it on vinyl with my pocket money! I've still got the 12inch vinyl single it was one of the best rap songs of 1983 in the USA and UK music charts A timeless song as in this day and age the most of the UK has got a bad sniff/beak/cocaine problem as the UK uses more cocaine than any other country in the world 🌎 sadly!!! 😎🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳

[@SonnyB273]

The more I see the more I do! He was bloody right of course.... Class!

[@KiritPankhania]

Boom 💥

[@marccharbonneau1967]

As a Rock and roll lover,who loves alllllllllllllllll music,this was first heard in my Montreal school daze,FRENCH, and it was hilarious then because we knew nothing at dances and hilarious now because GEN X just HADITALL. GOOD AND BAD ALIVE AND NOW GONE BLESS US ALL.

[@dazboyce1]

love this record ,takes me back

[@thedyslexicwebdev1654]

i miss it sometimes...but its very destructive

[@trixiedelight9874]

Moderation is key 🔑

[@freddy21200]

Good old days

[@susanmenegus3863]

Yes it was

[@davidwood2911]

From David A.Wood: "White Lines" has to be one of the most acurately topical, yet also musically scintillating "Hip-Hop" songs ever made! Also, I might modestly add, it is one of the most subtly compelling and emotionally sinister Pop Songs ever made! And to think it was an anti-Narcotics song from 1983 that was solely directed at the then tragically trendy activity of Powdered Cocaine abuse, the same year that the more insidiously dangerous version of the drug, that is the less monetarily expensive, Crystallized and Smokable Pebbles version (AKA: Crack or Rock Cocaine) of Cocaine was ominously introduced in large and teeming American cities like New York City and Los Angeles. As I previously said, "White Lines" came out in 1983, forty-one years ago, and the musically scintillating and emotionally aggressive song is still relevant to the people that reside in the Inner Cities portions of American Society. Nuff Said and Peace Out from Kettering, Ohio, everybody. ☮️🇺🇲😃✌️👍

[@toniwilson8212]

This brings me back to my teen years

[@pyroplim6967]

I grew up in a small English village from 1966 onwards. There were only a few Indian folk and one black family .We had a dico on wednesday nights for under 16s at the civic centre. Someone knew some black lads from Crewe who could breakdance and fetched them up one week and they put a show on for us. It was a amazing thing to see .This song was played and it was no doubt one of the very few songs played on uk radio at the time of this new scene. I come back to this track and Run Dmc and Jason Nevins its like that track often.

[@Mgocnt]

Incredible base line. Intense talent of the young people dancing! Spot on enjoyable!

[@Raider577]

The actual famous bassline was taken by Grandmaster Flash from a record called Cavern by Liquid Liquid. Most people don't know that.

[@Mgocnt]

@@Raider577 thank you for the info. I'm guessing that bass player is skilled!

[@jameslatimer1432]

Remember having a big Philips portable tape deck it was blue and silver it took 10 big fat batteries it weighted a ton and pumped this track out in Hackney Jack Dunning Estate next to Upton House School batteries would last 20 mins turned up lol 😆 if lucky xxgreat days 70s 80s

[@jono.pom-downunder]

Ditto JL knocking bass out in Dulwich and West Norwood. Gotta love hefting a dozen D cells and set of spares, we would've killed for lithium ion batteries

[@michelebrotman5345]

Best bass line ever!

[@glitchtulsa3429]

Doug Wimbish is the bass player. He currently plays for Living Colour.

[@davidwood2911]

From David A. Wood: White Lines! One of the best, f**king-a**ed "Anti-Drug" songs ever! Nuff Said and Peace Out from Kettering, Ohio, everybody. ☮️🇺🇲😃👋✌️👍

[@markrainsford9480]

The bass line and the 'something like a phenomenon' were appropriated from Liquid Liquid's Cavern. A long court case ensued and Sugar Hill chose bankruptcy rather than pay the $600,000 judgement. I'd never heard of Cavern until I heard it on the soundtrack to the John Favreau film, Chef.

[@xeutoniumnyborg1192]

"A street kid gets arrested, Gonna do some time, He got out 3 years from now just to commit more crime. A business man is caught with 24 kilos, he's out on bail, and out of jail, And that's the way it goes" Truer words are harder to find than this statement.

[@cmc8375]

Love this song and the video and dancing! 💙🎶✊

[@carlovincetti4538]

This was the first rap music, showcasing break dancing to the masses through media. With a Lil PSA to boot.

[@leonarddixon8017]

Yes now do u know what movie the break dancing is from yes the most famous is the empty subway break dance battle dance off where they are jumping the train gates. ( oh please don't try that shit today in NYC ) OH ALSO MICHAEL JACKSON RECORDED HIS BAD ALBUM VIDEO AT THE SAME PLACE EXACTLY FROM THE ONE U SEE IN THIS VIDEO NOW THATS SOME REAL TRUE MUSIC LEGEND HISTORY OF 2 LEGENDS! GRAND MASTER FLASH N MICHAEL JACKSON! 💯🔥🎤

[@artietheman3294]

Thiz will alwayz be A , and stay in our memories, for ever as part of our culture , not just A song , an Anthêm to us all whom listen to it!,🤔🙄Dance to it, Dj. And play it at the radio stations" so true to the lirycs and consenquences it delivers...🙈Grand Masterflash & rappers Delight forever 🤗🎵🎶🎙🎼Beat Street HOÖ- RÂÂH👍🎵🎶🎙🎼

[@KiritPankhania]

Timeless ✅

[@juanpabloarena2724]

And to think that many people knew this song covered by Duran Duran... Both versions sound very fresh! Applause from Argentina 👍

[@JohnSmith-dm1wo]

No one with a brain thought this song was a Duran Duran original

[@baronsaturday9560]

Duran Duran..? I never heard that one at the time, gonna check it out! -hifromholland 🧡💥

[@Ps05205]

I heard this song once and only 20 years ago and never heard it ever since. Untill now, goosehumps...

[@DavidThomas658]

The only drawback to this Great song and video is it's in danger of being overlooked for its serious life-and-death message ! !

[@77898]

Who's here in 2023 from the break dance era, 💯😀

[@mikestaberstaber5738]

i remember jammin' to this song in the wee hours in Saratoga, in the 80's

[@matthewtaylor3308]

The pinnacle of Rap.

[@user-sv4rp4iz8l]

Oh , this is amazing! Can’t keep still with this playing. Awesome video. Important message in it though….😮Those dancers must have been so fit . Recommend for all break dancers then and now! 😊

[@susanmenegus3863]

Love this song

[@hellokitty2931]

Still listening in 2020 !!! LOVE THIS SONG !! 😎😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆

[@valeriefoster267]

Still listening to this song in2021

[@libyanhouse7119]

🤣

[@lindahenigin]

And they'll still be watching in 3020. 🤷🏼‍♀️

[@oliverhladky9938]

👋

[@oliverhladky9938]

@@lindahenigin $ is Rob From meeting

[@Johnstone72]

True story. George Bush (Snr.) loved this song. Used to rock out to it with Col Oliver North.

[@Dan_druft]

I was 23 then amazing times

[@flyers973]

A masterpiece, great great song

[@joannemaskall937]

One of my only prized possessions is the 12 inch vinyl of this and one of my beautiful memories is as a child in the U.K learning to try and break dance in my mates back yard in the early 1980's on a piece of MDF wood in the summer holidays-good times 😊 xx

[@marccharbonneau1967]

God thank you,GENX

[@fabiennemorinello6754]

terrible cette chanson 1983 ma belle annee 😎📻📻

[@RicardoMartinez-wz3oe]

1980song l love it.pacas,shadow csl

[@ndorfn6579]

I look this song up at least once a year 🎉

[@PhilAndersonOutside]

My (pasty white & conservative) uncle was about 60 when this came out, and he really admired breakdancing. Loved watching it. This may make little sense, or seem really odd today where everything thing is divisive, but those were happier times. You kind of had to be there.

[@aldebaran6688]

Oh my god !!! I miss this time❤️👍

[@elysehfm8797]

Wow. Amazing time capsule in this video. 💜💜💜

[@JOEFABULOUS.]

Truth never gets old

[@loriwise5120]

I want this played at my funeral ...last song ..😅

[@bottarnold375]

LEGEND 👑 1#HOLY SPIRIT 🔥

[@loriwise5120]

Break dancing ..miss the 80s and 90s

[@CDawson428]

Thank you cocaine bear for showing me this

[@monotrious]

One Of The Best Songs In Recorded History .

[@bigbass421]

The great Doug Wimbush on bass on this.

[@josephcopeland2343]

Yes white line I used to play the song constantly yes it has a funky beat but the best powerful message that is truth going down even to this day

[@zoyagurevich]

В молодости эта часть жизни на планете Земля прошла мимо меня, Ваши работы восполняют пробел. Спасибо!

[@thecrowmann1]

fuck teah friend

[@goodmeasure777]

This what I'm talking about. This where it all started. Real Hip Hop. I spy Staci Lattisaw. The bass line though! Look at my fellow Gen X'ers pop lockin, and break dancin! I see King of Pop Michael Jackson took inspiration for his "Bad" video 2:20-2:34. All kinds of pure gold in these clips.

[@Raider577]

The actual famous bassline was taken by Grandmaster Flash from a record called Cavern by Liquid Liquid. Only found that out today.

[@MsRadar23]

real hip hop 💯

[@jakecoope96]

Listening to this in the 2000s, sat in the car thinking my dad was drug free ! Haha

[@user-do5qc5ov5l]

this song was in a series that was black and white. about gang life in a black area of a chicago like city. this was the series song opener.

[@jeneanmcbrearty4747]

A great message song....don't do it! With a great beat and great vocals. Should be played at every party at least twice.

[@bearcupcake3103]

i remember buying this

[@alexverb]

Masterpiece ! These days people had skills, far from that Instagram shit

[@user-qp9ux4cd3u]

素敵なビデオありがとう

[@cathyharden2129]

My first time seeing this version I like it

[@robaltherobal]

Famously great track and equally great video mix .... huge kudos italoeurodisco!!!! p.s. Holy San Remo 😇

[@peace2all717]

My getting ready to go out n party song

[@thedyslexicwebdev1654]

So true jajaja

[@wboyle9721]

Grandmaster flash singing what was to happen in the future with drugs a warning

[@TheDreamtheaterlover]

Flash is a DJ not a singer this is Melle Mel

[@user-qp2jz4te5x]

Beautiful break dancing

[@j.ramone4116]

Still sounds good now.the mark of a good song

[@alexarmstrong9284]

Id like to break dance again without breaking a hip

[@taurus66]

I don’t think any music can be as cool as 80’s music noticed there’s lots of songs today with 80’s beat.

[@nathalie9750]

dance année 80 France ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@michaelcelotto6743]

Legendary

[@shaunian100]

Im off to see him end of Oct cant wait

[@welintoncesar1838]

Lendo os Comentários caraca Diversas e diversas Historia a Música ela faz e tras Varias Historia e lembranças caraca Doideira....

[@davidcoleman8062]

White lines turned to white rock's.

[@felipeduenas2968]

Awesome song and video man

[@douglasdixon524]

Cool song. 4:20, It still blows my mind to see old images of people in front of the Twin Towers. 7:15, Beautiful shot, the towers appear to be golden in the sunset.

[@HannibalHector714]

80s BBOY4LIFE ✌🏽😎

[@beckymartin12]

he could have said "Freeze".. or....SHAWN of the DEAD,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,i knew this song be4 that movie, by many yrs,, but i love that movie , its was way to funny and done just right,,, u ,,miss alot of the funny shit, if ur not paying attention,, like "We're coming to get u Barbara"... thats from the Original movie,.;..Night of the Living Dead",, i always cracked up over that one

[@paulychannel7914]

He tried to tell 'em.....but.......they did it anyhows.....'til they woke up.......

[@josephanderson6410]

Ty for being in my movie film!! Joe DrT ! #rojo2022!

[@user-qp2jz4te5x]

Nice song

[@cipher2]

awesome

[@benolivarez8219]

I'm an actor and love this song