THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

523-Grandmaster Flash & Melle Mel.-White Lines (Don’t Don’t Do It)

1984-Number 7 single.

Best Bit-At 3.25. A second wonderful ‘Message.’

When this song was originally released on ‘Sugar Hill’ records, it was credited to Grandmaster Flash & Melle Mel, this was to done to mislead the public in to thinking that Grandmaster Flash (see also best songs 290 and 87) had participated on the record, as he had done a year earlier on ‘The Message,’ but he hadn’t, as he had recently left the record label over a dispute about royalties.

Melle Mel was born Melvin Glover on May 15th, 1961, in The Bronx, New York City, New York, United States, he was a member of ‘Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five who formed in 1978. It was Keith ‘Cowboy’ Wiggins another member of the Furious Five who is credited with coining the term ‘Hip-Hop,’ in 1978, while teasing a friend who had just joined the U.S Army by scat singing the made up words ‘Hip/Hop/Hip/Hop,’ in a rhythmic cadence of marching soldiers. Melle Mel has appeared on 10 studio Albums between 1982-2009. and has been either lead, or featured artist on 44 singles, including the 1984 UK Number 1 single ‘I Feel For You,’ by Chaka Khan (see also best songs 85.)

‘White Lines (Don’t Don’t Do It) was co-written by Melle Mel and Sylvia Robinson (1935-2011) (see also best songs 597-466-290 and 17) and like it’s predecessor ‘The Message’ is considered an inspiration for future socially conscious, and politically orientated Rap groups such as Public Enemy, and N.W.A. ‘White Lines’ heavily samples a song called ‘Cavern’ from 1983 by the American band ‘Liquid Liquid.’ The bands record label ’99 Records’ successfully sued Sugar Hill’ records for $660,000, but Sugar Hill who were struggling financially at the time didn’t pay, instead declaring themselves bankrupt.

‘Little Jack Horner sitting on the corner with no shoes or clothes, this ain’t funny but he took his money and sniffed it up his nose.’