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The Sugarhill Gang - Now Playing [New Vinyl LP]New · Buy It Now$21.48
The Sugarhill Gang Self Titled Vinyl LP SH-245 Rapper’s Delight Sugar Hill 1980Used · Buy It Now$10.99
Sugarhill Gang - Rapper's Delight: The Best Of Sugarhill Gang (2 x Vinyl LP)Used · Buy It Now$35.00
The Sugarhill Gang–Sugar Hill Groove–1979 Sugar Hill–SH 548 12" Vinyl RecordUsed · Buy It Now$6.00
Sugarhill Gang is the debut album by the Sugarhill Gang, Wonder Mike, Big Bank Hank and Master Gee, released by Sugar Hill Records in 1980. It collects “Rapper’s Delight,” the record that took rap from the parks to the pop charts.
The story
Label founder Sylvia Robinson put the trio together in New Jersey in 1979. “Rapper’s Delight” ran nearly 15 minutes and became the first rap single to reach the Top 40. Big Bank Hank’s verse famously borrowed rhymes from the Cold Crush Brothers’ Grandmaster Caz, who was never credited.
Sound and production
Sugar Hill’s house band replayed the bass line and groove of Chic’s “Good Times” live in the studio, the standard approach before samplers.
Legacy
Bronx pioneers saw the group as outsiders, but “Rapper’s Delight” proved rap could sell, and the industry followed.
Tracklist & credits
Produced by Sylvia, Inc., Billy Jones, Nate Edmonds, Sylvia Robinson
- A1Here I Am5:09
- A2Rapper's Reprise (Jam-Jam)7:40
- A3Bad News6:45
- B1Sugar Hill Groove9:52
- B2Passion Play5:10
- B3Rapper's Delight4:55
Tracklist and producer credits: Discogs. Gear credits: Breakbeat Archive, sourced on each credit.
Made with
The gear behind this record, sourced and for sale.
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More from hip hop in 1980.