Sugarhill Gang

The Sugarhill Gang, an American rap group, was formed in Englewood, New Jersey, in 1979. Original members included Michael Anthony Wright (Wonder Mike), Henry Lee Jackson (Big Bank Hank), and Guy O’Brien (Master Gee). The group was assembled by record producer Sylvia Robinson, co-founder of Sugar Hill Records. None of the members had professionally rapped before their formation. Master Gee and Wonder Mike had experience as deejays or MCs at parties, while Big Bank Hank managed another rapper, Grandmaster Caz, whose rhymes he used in his audition. Their debut single, ‘Rapper’s Delight,’ recorded in the summer of 1979, was nearly 15 minutes long in its original version and featured the members rapping over a track that sampled Chic’s ‘Good Times.’ Released in September 1979, ‘Rapper’s Delight’ achieved mainstream success, reaching number 4 on the Hot Soul Singles chart in the U.S., number 1 in Canada, and number 3 in the UK.

Despite legal disputes over copyright related to ‘Rapper’s Delight’ with Chic’s members Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards, which resulted in their inclusion in the songwriting credits, the song sold an estimated 14 million copies. The group released their debut album, ‘Sugarhill Gang,’ in 1980, followed by ‘8th Wonder’ in 1981, which featured the songs ‘Apache’ and ‘Showdown.’ They appeared on television programs such as ‘Soul Train’ and ‘American Bandstand.’ The Sugarhill Gang released two more albums, ‘Rappin’ Down Town’ (1983) and ‘Livin’ in the Fast Lane’ (1984), before disbanding in the mid-1980s. They reunited in 1999 for ‘Jump on It!,’ a children’s hip-hop album.

Legal issues with Sugar Hill Records prevented original members Wonder Mike and Master Gee from performing under the group’s name for a period; however, these disputes were eventually resolved. Big Bank Hank passed away in 2014. Wonder Mike and Master Gee, along with Henry ‘Henn Dogg’ Williams, continued to perform as the Sugarhill Gang. Their song ‘Rapper’s Delight’ was inducted into the U.S. Library of Congress National Recording Registry in 2011 and the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2014, recognized for its cultural and historical significance. The group celebrated the 40th anniversary of ‘Rapper’s Delight’ with a world tour in 2019 and made television appearances, including on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’. As of 2024, the group consists of Wright, O’Brien, Williams, DJ T-Dynasty, and Bar Shon ‘Ethiopian King’.