Duke Bootee, born Edward Fletcher, was an early rapper who co-wrote the influential hip-hop song “The Message,” performed by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five.
(Photo by Geoff L Johnson)
- Died: January 13, 2021 (Who else died on January 13?)
- Details of death: Died at his home in Savannah, Georgia of congestive heart failure at the age of 69.
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Bringing a message to hip-hop
Fletcher was a studio musician at Sugar Hill Records, the seminal label that released early hip-hop classics. There, he performed with bands including the Sugar Hill Gang and the Furious Five. When Fletcher first wrote “The Message,” other artists at Sugar Hill were uninterested in performing it. The song was gritty and serious, worlds apart from the era’s light-hearted party hip-hop. “The Message” told a story of a grim existence in the inner city, featuring the rhythmic refrain:
Don’t push me ‘cause I’m close to the edge
I’m trying not to lose my head
It’s like a jungle sometimes, it makes me wonder
How I keep from going under
Sugar Hill Records co-owner Sylvia Robinson (1936–2011) liked the song and pushed for it to see the light of day, so the Furious Five recorded it with a verse added by Melle Mel. Fletcher played most of the instruments and shared vocals with Mel, rapping the verses he wrote, though he wasn’t included in the video. The song became an instant hit and an enduring classic, sampled widely and opening up a new direction for rap music to become a tool of social justice, not just the fun and boasting rhymes that were its origins. It was ranked among the top hip-hop tracks of all time by VH-1, About.com, and Rolling Stone, which ranked it No. 1. “The Message” was the first hip-hop song added to the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress.
Fletcher worked again with Mel on the singles “Message II (Survival)” and “New York New York.” In later years, he became a lecturer in critical thinking and communications at Savannah State University.
Notable quote
“I was a percussionist with Sugar Hill, and I used to tell them, ‘Y’all better hope that I don’t start rapping, because you not talking about nothing.’” —from “The Messenger: An Edward Fletcher Profile”
Tributes to Duke Bootee
Full obituary: The New York Times
