The Sugarhill Gang
Encyclopedia
The Sugarhill Gang is an American hip hop
group
, known mostly for their 1979 hit
, "Rapper's Delight
", the first hip hop single
to become a Top 40 hit. The song uses the instrumental
track from the classic hit "Good Times" by Chic
as its foundation.
The members, all from Englewood, New Jersey
, 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, the record mogul Joe Robinson.
"Rapper's Delight" used a track cut from a Sugar Hill house band called Positive Force with Chip Shearin on bass and Brian Morgan on guitar. The track sampled "Good Times" by Chic. Big Bank Hank's verses were written by Grandmaster Caz
. However, despite the record's success, Caz did not receive any royalties
for his contribution. Chic's Nile Rodgers
and Bernard Edwards filed a lawsuit
for copyright infringement
over "Rapper's Delight", the first of many such legal battles for rap. It was settled out of court, leaving Rodgers with a large cut of all future royalties.
The Sugarhill Gang never again topped the charts, though they had a few minor hits, such as "Apache", "Eighth Wonder
" (which was performed on the American music show Soul Train
in 1981), "Rapper's Reprise (Jam Jam)", and "Showdown" (with the Furious Five). In 1999, they reunited and recorded Jump on It!, a hip hop children's album. They continue to tour.
Bob Sinclar
collaborated with Wonder Mike and Master Gee on his 2009 release "Lala Song
". The Sugarhill Gang are also known as the Original Sugar.
(1980)
(1981)
(1983)
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
group
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
, known mostly for their 1979 hit
Hit record
A hit record is a sound recording, usually in the form of a single or album, that sells a large number of copies or otherwise becomes broadly popular or well-known, through airplay, club play, inclusion in a film or stage play soundtrack, causing it to have "hit" one of the popular chart listings...
, "Rapper's Delight
Rapper's Delight
"Rapper's Delight" is a 1979 single by American hip hop trio The Sugarhill Gang. While it was not the first single to feature rapping, it is generally considered to be the song that first popularized hip hop in the United States and around the world. The song's opening lyric "I said a hip hop, a...
", the first hip hop single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
to become a Top 40 hit. The song uses the instrumental
Instrumental
An instrumental is a musical composition or recording without lyrics or singing, although it might include some non-articulate vocal input; the music is primarily or exclusively produced by musical instruments....
track from the classic hit "Good Times" by Chic
Chic (band)
Chic was an African American disco and R&B band that was organized during 1976 by guitarist Nile Rodgers and bassist Bernard Edwards. It is known best for its commercially successful disco songs, including "Dance, Dance, Dance " , "Everybody Dance" , "Le Freak" , "I Want Your Love" , "Good Times"...
as its foundation.
The members, all from Englewood, New Jersey
Englewood, New Jersey
Englewood is a city located in Bergen County, New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 27,147.Englewood was incorporated as a city by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 17, 1899, from portions of Ridgefield Township and the remaining portions of...
, called themselves Wonder Mike
Wonder Mike
Wonder Mike is an old school rapper, famous for being a member of The Sugarhill Gang, the first hip hop act to produce a record, "Rapper's Delight".-References:...
, Big Bank Hank
Big Bank Hank
Big Bank Hank is an American old school rapper. Also known as Imp the Dimp, he is a member of The Sugarhill Gang, the first hip hop act to have a hit single, "Rapper's Delight"....
and Master Gee. They were assembled into a group by producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
Sylvia Robinson
Sylvia Robinson
Sylvia Robinson was an American singer, musician, record producer, and record label executive, most notably known for her work as founder/CEO of the hip hop label Sugar Hill Records. She is credited as the driving force behind two landmark singles in the genre...
who also founded Sugar Hill Records
Sugar Hill Records (rap)
Sugar Hill Records was the name of a rap music record label that was founded in 1979 by husband and wife Joe and Sylvia Robinson with Milton Malden and financial funding of Morris Levy, the owner of Roulette Records.-History:...
, along with her husband, the record mogul Joe Robinson.
"Rapper's Delight" used a track cut from a Sugar Hill house band called Positive Force with Chip Shearin on bass and Brian Morgan on guitar. The track sampled "Good Times" by Chic. Big Bank Hank's verses were written by Grandmaster Caz
Grandmaster Caz
Curtis Fisher , better known by his stage name Grandmaster Caz or Cassanova Fly is an American "Old Skool" rapper, MC, and DJ...
. However, despite the record's success, Caz did not receive any royalties
Royalties
Royalties are usage-based payments made by one party to another for the right to ongoing use of an asset, sometimes an intellectual property...
for his contribution. Chic's Nile Rodgers
Nile Rodgers
Nile Gregory Rodgers is an American musician, producer, composer, arranger, and guitarist.-Biography:...
and Bernard Edwards filed a lawsuit
Lawsuit
A lawsuit or "suit in law" is a civil action brought in a court of law in which a plaintiff, a party who claims to have incurred loss as a result of a defendant's actions, demands a legal or equitable remedy. The defendant is required to respond to the plaintiff's complaint...
for copyright infringement
Copyright infringement
Copyright infringement is the unauthorized or prohibited use of works under copyright, infringing the copyright holder's exclusive rights, such as the right to reproduce or perform the copyrighted work, or to make derivative works.- "Piracy" :...
over "Rapper's Delight", the first of many such legal battles for rap. It was settled out of court, leaving Rodgers with a large cut of all future royalties.
The Sugarhill Gang never again topped the charts, though they had a few minor hits, such as "Apache", "Eighth Wonder
Eighth Wonder (single)
"8th Wonder" is a 1980 single by the American hip hop trio The Sugarhill Gang, originally released on Sugarhill Records. It was later made part of their 1982 album 8th Wonder...
" (which was performed on the American music show Soul Train
Soul Train
Soul Train is an American musical variety show that aired in syndication from October 1971 to March 2006. In its 35-year history, the show primarily featured performances by R&B, soul, and hip hop artists, although funk, jazz, disco, and gospel artists have also appeared.As a nod to Soul Trains...
in 1981), "Rapper's Reprise (Jam Jam)", and "Showdown" (with the Furious Five). In 1999, they reunited and recorded Jump on It!, a hip hop children's album. They continue to tour.
Bob Sinclar
Bob Sinclar
Bob Sinclar, originally spelled "Sinclair" - , is a French record producer, House music DJ, remixer and owner of the label Yellow Productions.- Career history :...
collaborated with Wonder Mike and Master Gee on his 2009 release "Lala Song
Lala Song
Lala Song is the first single off Bob Sinclar's latest studio album Born in 69, released on April 3, 2009. The song features rappers Master Gee and Wonder Mike from The Sugarhill Gang.- Charts :- Year-end charts :...
". The Sugarhill Gang are also known as the Original Sugar.
Discography
The discography of The Sugarhill Gang includes four studio albums, nine compilations and fifteen singles.Studio albums
| Year | Title | Chart positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. top 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
U.S. R&B Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999... |
NZ Recording Industry Association of New Zealand The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand is a non-profit trade association of record producers, distributors and recording artists who sell music in New Zealand... |
||
| 1980 | Sugarhill Gang Sugarhill Gang (album) The album was released in 1980 for Sugarhill Records and was produced by Sylvia Robinson. The single "Rapper's Delight" was a #36 hit on the US pop chart and a #4 hit on the R&B chart...
|
— | 32 | — |
| 1982 | 8th Wonder
|
50 | 15 | 44 |
| 1984 | Livin' in the Fast Lane Livin' in the Fast Lane Livin' in the Fast Lane is the third studio album by the American hip hop group The Sugarhill Gang, released in 1984 on Sugar Hill Records.-Track listing:Samples and notes*"Troy" samples "Mosquito", by West Street Mob... |
— | — | — |
| 1999 | Jump on It! Jump on It! Jump On It! is the fourth album by rap group The Sugarhill Gang. The album was released in 1999 for Rhino Entertainment and was the first album by the group since 1984's Livin' in the Fast Lane. The album was marketed towards children and featured a kid version of the group's 1979 hit, "Rapper's... |
— | — | — |
Compilation albums
- Rappin' Down Town (1983)
- Sugarhill Gang Greatest HitsSugarhill Gang Greatest HitsSugarhill Gang Greatest Hits is the first Best Of album by The Sugarhill Gang. It was released in 1984 . Although the album states on the cover: RAPPER'S DELIGHT the album actually only contains the which is 6:30.-Track listing:#Rapper's Delight - 6:30#Kick It Live From 9 To 5 - 6:39#Apache -...
(1984) - The Best Of Sugarhill Gang: Rapper's DelightThe Best Of Sugarhill Gang: Rapper's DelightThe Best of Sugarhill Gang: Rapper's Delight is the fourth album by The Sugarhill Gang. It was released in July 1996.-Track listing:#Rapper's Delight - 14:23#Hot Hot Summer Day#8th Wonder#Showdown#Apache - 6:09#The Lover In You#The Word Is Out...
(1996) - Ain't Nothin' But A Party (1998)
- Back To The Old School 2 - Rapper's Delights (1999)
- Sugarhill Gang, The* Vs. Grandmaster Flash - The Greatest Hits (2000)
- The Greatest Hits Of Sugarhill Gang (2004 Tour) (2004)
- The Story Of Sugarhill Records (2005)
- Hip Hop Anniversary Europe Tour: Sugarhill Gang Live (2008)
- "Rhythm & Rhymes: The Definitive Collection" (2010)
Singles
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | Album | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
U.S. R&B Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,... |
U.S. Club Play | NZ Recording Industry Association of New Zealand The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand is a non-profit trade association of record producers, distributors and recording artists who sell music in New Zealand... |
UK UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
|||
| 1979 | "Rapper's Delight Rapper's Delight "Rapper's Delight" is a 1979 single by American hip hop trio The Sugarhill Gang. While it was not the first single to feature rapping, it is generally considered to be the song that first popularized hip hop in the United States and around the world. The song's opening lyric "I said a hip hop, a... " |
36 | 4 | 14 | 18 | 3 | Sugarhill Gang |
| 1980 | "Rapper's Reprise (Jam Jam)" | — | — | — | — | — | |
| "8th Wonder 8th Wonder 8th Wonder is the second album by rap group The Sugarhill Gang. The album was released in 1982 for Sugarhill Records and was once again produced by Sylvia Robinson and James Cullimore... " |
82 | 15 | 38 | — | — | 8th Wonder | |
| 1981 | "Apache" | 53 | 13 | 51 | — | — | |
| "Showdown" (credited as The Furious Five meets The Sugarhill Gang) | — | 49 | — | — | — | ||
| 1982 | "The Lover In You" | — | 55 | — | — | 54 | — |
| 1983 | "The Word Is Out" | — | 71 | — | — | — | |
| "Be A Winner" | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Kick It Live from 9 to 5" / "The Lover In You" | — | 50 | — | — | — | Livin' in the Fast Lane | |
| 1984 | "Livin' in the Fast Lane" | — | — | — | — | — | |
| "Troy" / "Girls" | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "The Down Beat" | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 1985 | "Work, Work The Body" | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 1989 | "Rapper's Delight (Hip Hop Remix '89)" | — | — | — | 34 | 58 | |
| 2009 | "Lala Song" (credited as Bob Sinclar Bob Sinclar Bob Sinclar, originally spelled "Sinclair" - , is a French record producer, House music DJ, remixer and owner of the label Yellow Productions.- Career history :... featuring The Sugarhill Gang) |
— | — | — | — | — | |
Awards and nominations
Hip-Hop Nation AwardsHip-Hop Nation Awards
Hip-Hop Nation Awards is a first hip-hop awards came out in 1979. The first hip-hop awards before the BET Hip Hop Awards in 2006.-Categories:Hip-Hop Nation Awards categories are including Best Rap Album, Best Rap Song, Best New Artist, and Best Rap Record. Sometimes, Best Rap Record usually found...
(1980)
- Best Rap Album – "The Sugarhill Gang" - Won
- Best Rap Single – "Rapper's Delight" - Won
- Best Rap Record – "Rapper's Delight" - Won
- Best Rap Single with Group – "Rapper's Delight" - Won
- Best Rap Single with Collaboration – "Rapper's Delight" featuring Nile Rodgers - Won
(1981)
- Best Rap Single – "Apache" - Nominated
- Best Rap Single with Group – "Apache" - Nominated
(1983)
- Best Rap Album – "8th Wonder" - Won
- Best Rap Single – "8th Wonder" - Nominated
- Best Rap Single with Group – "8th Wonder" - Nominated
- Lifetime Awards (1987) - Won
- Lifetime Awards (2008) - Won