Online Encyclopedia
The Sugarhill Gang
The Sugarhill Gang were a trio of American hip hop musicians, known mostly for one hit, "Rapper's Delight", the first rap single. The members called themselves Wonder Mike, Big Bank Hank , and Master Gee . They were picked up by producer Sylvia Robinson who also founded Sugar Hill Records along with her husband record mogul Joe Robinson.
The song was a best-seller 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 [Jam Jam]" 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.
Some claim that the first rap single was "King Tim III" by the Fatback Band, not "Rapper's Delight." 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-S-N-O-V-A" used by Big Bank Hank in the song, at the time Grandmaster Caz regularly referred to himself as "Cassanova Fly"; but the Sugarhill Gang's place in rap history seems secure as the first rap group to have a Gold single.