Rapper’s Delight

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Rapper’s Delight

song by Sugarhill Gang

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July 16, 2026

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"Rapper's Delight," released in 1979 by the Sugarhill Gang, is widely considered the first significant hip-hop single. While not the absolute first hip-hop song, its release marked a pivotal moment, propelling the genre into mainstream pop music. The song's success was partly due to its lighthearted lyrics and a catchy, danceable beat sampled from Chic's disco hit "Good Times".12

The Sugarhill Gang, formed in Englewood, New Jersey, consisted of Wonder Mike, Big Bank Hank, and Master Gee. Producer Sylvia Robinson assembled the group for Sugar Hill Records, a label she founded. The song's iconic intro, "I said a hip-hop, the hippie, the hippie / to the hip, hip-hop and you don't stop," became instantly recognizable. "Rapper's Delight" achieved significant chart success both in the U.S. and internationally, introducing many listeners to hip-hop culture.23

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the Sugarhill Gang
Rapper’s Delight
…recorded their first song, “Rapper’s Delight,” in the summer of 1979 in one take. At nearly 15 minutes, the “long version” of the single features the three group members taking turns rapping over a danceable hip-hop track. The song’s chorus, performed by Wonder Mike, opens the recording. Its playful…
Read More
…recorded their first song, “Rapper’s Delight,” in the summer of 1979 in one take. At nearly 15 minutes, the “long version” of the single features the three group members taking turns rapping over a danceable hip-hop track. The song’s chorus, performed by Wonder Mike, opens the recording. Its playful…
Read More

hip-hop
Origins and the old school
…the Sugarhill Gang’s song “Rapper’s Delight” (1979) on the independent African American-owned label Sugar Hill. Within weeks of its release, it had become a chart-topping phenomenon and given its name to a new genre of pop music. The major pioneers of rapping were Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five,…
Read More
…the Sugarhill Gang’s song “Rapper’s Delight” (1979) on the independent African American-owned label Sugar Hill. Within weeks of its release, it had become a chart-topping phenomenon and given its name to a new genre of pop music. The major pioneers of rapping were Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five,…
Read More

novelty song
…and the Sugarhill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight” (1979). It is also true, however, that records that initially sound peculiar cease to as people learn their language. It is in this way—as an entry point—that novelty songs have played an important role in the history of rock music.
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…and the Sugarhill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight” (1979). It is also true, however, that records that initially sound peculiar cease to as people learn their language. It is in this way—as an entry point—that novelty songs have played an important role in the history of rock music.
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rap
…the Sugar Hill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight” (1979). Rap’s early stars included Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, Run-D.M.C., LL Cool J, Public Enemy (who espoused a radical political message), and the Beastie Boys. The late 1980s saw the advent of “gangsta rap,” with lyrics that were often misogynistic or…
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…the Sugar Hill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight” (1979). Rap’s early stars included Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, Run-D.M.C., LL Cool J, Public Enemy (who espoused a radical political message), and the Beastie Boys. The late 1980s saw the advent of “gangsta rap,” with lyrics that were often misogynistic or…
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Sugar Hill Records
“Rapper’s Delight”
“Rapper’s Delight” (1979) by the Sugarhill Gang was the first to make the Top 40; “The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash on the Wheels of Steel” (1981) was a 15-minute epic that sampled sections of Chic’s “Good Times” (1979) and showcased the new sound of scratching…
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“Rapper’s Delight” (1979) by the Sugarhill Gang was the first to make the Top 40; “The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash on the Wheels of Steel” (1981) was a 15-minute epic that sampled sections of Chic’s “Good Times” (1979) and showcased the new sound of scratching…
Read More