master gee of the sugarhill gang

Guy Anthony O’Brien, known as Master Gee, was born on June 15, 1962. He grew up in Teaneck, New Jersey, where he was exposed to doo wop and rhythm and blues. He established himself as an energetic emcee in the pioneering Phase 2 hip-hop crew. In 1979, Master Gee, along with Henry “Big Bank Hank” Jackson and Michael “Wonder Mike” Wright, were discovered by producer Sylvia Robinson. Robinson assembled them into a group, which they named The Sugarhill Gang. This group, formed in Englewood, New Jersey, quickly made history with their debut single.

In 1979, The Sugarhill Gang released “Rapper’s Delight,” which became the first rap single to reach the top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 36 on January 12, 1980. This track is widely recognized as one of the most significant rap songs of all time. While “Rapper’s Delight” was their only U.S. top 40 hit, the group achieved further success in Europe throughout the early to mid-1980s with tracks like “Apache,” “8th Wonder,” “Rapper’s Reprise (Jam Jam),” and “Showdown.” The original trio disbanded in 1985 after five active years.

After stepping away from Sugar Hill Records in 1984, O’Brien focused on new endeavors, establishing himself as an entrepreneur in the magazine industry. The group saw a partial reunion in 1990 for the “RapMania: The Roots of Rap” concert at the Apollo Theater. In 1994, The Sugarhill Gang was reformed. This period was marked by a name dispute, as Joey Robinson Jr. began performing under O’Brien’s stage name, “Master Gee.” This led to legal action by O’Brien and Wright to regain rights to their names. The matter was amicably resolved in 2014, allowing Master Gee to fully re-emerge in the hip-hop community. He continues to perform worldwide with The Sugarhill Gang and as a solo DJ, celebrating the group’s legacy and performing at various festivals and events.