The Sugarhill Gang

The Sugarhill Gang is an American hip hop group, known mostly for one hit, Rapper's Delight, the first hip hop single to become a Top 40 hit. The track uses the bass line from "Good Times" by Chic as its foundation. The members, all from New York City, called themselves Wonder Mike, Big Bank Hank, and Master Gee. They were assembled into a group by producer Sylvia Robinson who also founded Sugar Hill Records along with her husband record mogul Joe Robinson.

Related Topics:
American - Hip hop - Rapper's Delight - Top 40 - Chic - New York City - Wonder Mike - Big Bank Hank - Sylvia Robinson - Sugar Hill Records

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Rapper's Delight was a #36 hit on the US pop chart and a #4 hit on the US R&B chart in 1979 (see 1979 in music), though hip-hop was dismissed as a brief fad. The Sugarhill Gang never again topped the charts, though they had a few minor hits, such as Apache, Eighth Wonder, Rapper's Reprise and Showdown (with the Furious Five). In 1999 (see 1999 in music), they reunited and recorded Jump on It, a hip hop children's album. They continue to tour.

Related Topics:
1979 - 1979 in music - Apache - Furious Five - 1999 - 1999 in music

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Some claim that Rapper's Delight is the first hip-hop single ever, but it was actually preceded by King Tim III by the Fatback Band. The term "rap" is also claimed to be derived from the title of Rapper's Delight.

Related Topics:
King Tim III - Fatback Band

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In addition, Grandmaster Caz from the Cold Crush Brothers claims that Sugarhill Gang member Big Bank Hank used his rhymes on Rapper's Delight. This claim is attributed to the lyrics "I'm the C-A-S-AN the O-V-A and the rest is F-L-Y," used by Big Bank Hank in the song. (At the time Grandmaster Caz regularly referred to himself as "Casanova Fly.") However, it is said that Grandmaster Caz wrote Big Bank Hank's lyrics for the entire song. But the Sugarhill Gang's place in music history seems secure as the first hip hop group to have a Gold single.

Related Topics:
Grandmaster Caz - Cold Crush Brothers - Rapper's Delight - Gold single

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