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Sugarhill Gang inaugurated the history of recorded hip-hop with their single "Rapper's Delight," a multi-platinum selling album. Yet this group did not grow organically; instead it was cooked up to cash in on a supposed novelty item. Music-industry producer and label-owner Sylvia Robinson had become aware of the massive hip-hop block parties occurring around the New York area during the late '70s, so she gathered three local rappers (Master Gee, Wonder Mike, and Big Bank Hank) to record a single. Infectious and catchy, "Rapper's Delight" became a worldwide hit. Despite several modest hits to follow, ("8th Wonder," "Apache") the trio faded quickly and was gone by the mid-'80s, only returning in 1999 with Jump on It, a rap album for children. |
