- The Sugarhill Gang
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Sugarhill Gang Origin Englewood, New Jersey, U.S. Genres Hip hop, old school hip hop Years active 1973–2007, 2010–present (minor touring) Labels Sugar Hill Members Wonder Mike
Master Gee
Big Bank HankThe 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.[1] 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'''Bold text]", 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.
Contents
Discography
The Sugarhill Gang discography Releases ↙Studio albums 4 ↙Compilation albums 9 ↙Singles 15 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 U.S. R&B NZ 1980 Sugarhill Gang - Released: February 7, 1980
- Label: Sugar Hill Records
— 32 — 1982 8th Wonder - Released: November 24, 1982
- Label: Sugar Hill
50 15 44 1984 Livin' in the Fast Lane - Label: Sugar Hill[2]
— — — 1999 Jump on It! - Released: April 16, 1999
- Label: Rhino Entertainment
— — — Compilation albums
- Rappin' Down Town (1983)
- Sugarhill Gang Greatest Hits (1984)
- The Best Of Sugarhill Gang: Rapper's Delight (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)
Singles
Year Single Peak chart positions Album U.S. Hot 100 U.S. R&B U.S. Club Play NZ UK 1979 "Rapper's Delight" 36 4 14 18 3 Sugarhill Gang 1980 "Rapper's Reprise (Jam Jam)" — — — — — "8th Wonder" 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 featuring The Sugarhill Gang) — — — — — Awards and nominations
Hip-Hop Nation Awards
- (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
References
- ^ "Grandmaster Caz Music News & Info". Billboard.com. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/bio/index.jsp?pid=331365. Retrieved 2011-09-13.
- ^ Livin' in the Fast Lane (album?) at Discogs (list of releases)
External links
Categories:- American hip hop groups
- Rappers from New Jersey
- People from Englewood, New Jersey
- African American musical groups
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