the Sugarhill Gang
{{short description|American hip hop group}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = The Sugarhill Gang
| image = The Sugarhill Gang (52789914906).jpg
| landscape = yes
| caption = The Sugarhill Gang in 2023
| background = group_or_band
| origin = Englewood, New Jersey, U.S.
| genre = Hip hop
| years_active = {{hlist|1979–1985|1994–present}}
| label = {{hlist|Kid Rhino|Sugar Hill}}
| associated_acts = {{hlist|Joey Robinson Jr.|Henry "Hen Dogg" Williams}}
| current_members = * Wonder Mike
- Master Gee
- Hen Dogg
- DJ T-Dynasty
- Ethiopian King
| past_members = *Big Bank Hank
}}
The Sugarhill Gang is an American hip hop group formed in Englewood, New Jersey, in 1979. Their hit "Rapper's Delight", released the same year they were formed, was the first rap single to become a top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100,{{Cite web |title=29 Black Music Milestones: Sugarhill Gang |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/473110/29-black-music-milestones-sugarhill-gang-pioneers-hip-hop |access-date=April 22, 2021 |website=Billboard.com}} reaching a peak position of number 36 on January 12, 1980.{{Cite web |title=Sugarhill Gang |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/sugarhill-gang/chart-history/hsi/ |access-date=June 28, 2021 |website=Billboard.com}} This was the trio's only U.S. hit, though they would have further success in Europe until the mid-1980s. The trio reformed in 1994 and embarked on a world tour in 2016.
History
= Formation and early years =
The members, all from Englewood, New Jersey, consisted of Henry "Big Bank Hank" Jackson, Michael "Wonder Mike" Wright and Guy "Master Gee" O'Brien. The three were assembled into a group by producer Sylvia Robinson, who founded Sugar Hill Records with her husband, record producer Joe Robinson.{{Cite web |title=Sugar Hill Gang bio |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/sugarhill-gang-p102 |access-date=April 12, 2012 |website=AllMusic}} The group and the record company were named after the Sugar Hill, Harlem neighborhood.{{Cite news |last=Perrone |first=Pierre |date=October 4, 2011 |title=Sylvia Robinson: Hitmaker who co-founded Sugar Hill Records and became known as 'the mother of hip-hop' |work=The Independent |location=London |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/sylvia-robinson-hitmaker-who-cofounded-sugar-hill-records-and-became-known-as-lsquothe-mother-of-hiphoprsquo-2365098.html |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=September 15, 2013 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220620/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/sylvia-robinson-hitmaker-who-cofounded-sugar-hill-records-and-became-known-as-lsquothe-mother-of-hiphoprsquo-2365098.html |archive-date=June 20, 2022}}
Their 1979 hit "Rapper's Delight" was the first rap single to become a top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. "Rapper's Delight" is now considered one of the most important rap songs of all time. The group never had another top 40 U.S. hit, though it had multiple European hits, such as "Apache", "8th Wonder" (which was performed on the American music show Soul Train in 1981), "Rapper's Reprise (Jam Jam)", and "Showdown" (with the Furious Five). The trio wound down over the next five years and disbanded in 1985.{{Cite web |last=John Bush |title=The Sugarhill Gang Biography |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-sugarhill-gang-mn0000564631/biography |website=AllMusic}}
= Later years =
File:Sugarhill Gang Tour, 2016 (2).jpg
In 1990, the group briefly reunited to perform during the "RapMania: The Roots of Rap" concert at the Apollo Theater in New York City.{{Citation |title=Rapmania: The Roots of Rap (TV Movie 1990) ⭐ 7.1 {{!}} Documentary, Music |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0471354/ |access-date=February 15, 2024 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Sugar Hill Records: "Rapper's Delight" {{!}} Hip Hop, Disco, Music History {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Sugar-Hill-Records-Rappers-Delight-1688493 |access-date=February 15, 2024 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}
Joey Robinson, Sylvia Robinson's son, reformed the Sugarhill Gang in 1994.{{Cite web |date=February 12, 2024 |title=The Sugarhill Gang Reminisce on 'Rapper's Delight' & 50 Years of Hip-Hop |url=https://www.theaquarian.com/2024/02/12/the-sugarhill-gang-reminisce-on-rappers-delight-50-years-of-hip-hop/ |access-date=February 13, 2024 |website=The Aquarian |language=en-US}} The group recorded Jump On It!, a hip hop children's album, in 1999.{{Cite web |title=Jump on It! – The Sugarhill Gang – Songs, Reviews, Credits – AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/jump-on-it!-mw0000664152 |website=AllMusic}} O'Brien had not rejoined the group, and at some point, Robinson started performing under O'Brien's stage name "Master Gee". This frustrated O'Brien and Wright, the latter of whom—as Robinson's bandmate—had tried to convince Robinson not to use the name.{{Citation |last=Paradiso |first=Roger |title=I Want My Name Back |date=November 5, 2011 |type=Documentary, Biography, Music |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1872082/ |access-date=February 13, 2024 |others=Master Gee, Wonder Mike, Edward J. Albowicz |publisher=RLJ Entertainment}} Later, Robinson trademarked both the names "Master Gee" and "Wonder Mike". O'Brien and Wright went to court to retrieve the rights to their names.{{Cite magazine |last=Weingarten |first=Christopher R. |date=July 14, 2015 |title=Joseph Robinson Jr., Sugar Hill Records Exec, Dead at 53 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/joseph-robinson-jr-sugar-hill-records-exec-dead-at-53-126701/ |access-date=February 13, 2024 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Sugar Hill Gang's Master Gee and Wonder Mike Talk Finding Loopholes |url=https://www.bet.com/article/buwpal/sugar-hill-gang-s-master-gee-and-wonder-mike-talk-loopholes |access-date=February 13, 2024 |website=BET |language=en}}
After Wright and Henry "Hen Dogg" Williams (a producer) left Sugar Hill Records in 2005, they reunited with O'Brien and started performing as "Rapper's Delight Featuring Wonder Mike and Master Gee". This was due to Joey Robinson's performing with Jackson under the name "Sugarhill Gang" simultaneously, and Sugar Hill Records claiming copyright to that name.
Having reacquired the rights to the name "Sugarhill Gang", the group released "Lala Song" with French record producer and DJ Bob Sinclar in 2009.
On November 11, 2014, Jackson died at the age of 58 after a long battle with cancer.{{Cite news |last=Guse |first=Clayton |date=November 11, 2014 |title=Big Bank Hank from Sugarhill Gang dead at age 58 |work=Suntimes.com |url=http://nyc.suntimes.com/nyc-entertainment/7/86/34712/big-bank-hank-sugarhill-gang-best-songs/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141111234647/http://nyc.suntimes.com/nyc-entertainment/7/86/34712/big-bank-hank-sugarhill-gang-best-songs/ |archive-date=November 11, 2014}}
In 2016, Wright, O'Brien and Williams embarked on their first world tour in over a decade under the name the Sugarhill Gang. During this time they performed as the Sugarhill Gang for the Art of Rap festival tour and at V Festival in Hylands Park and Weston Park in the UK. Other places included the Clockenflap Festival in Hong Kong on November 27, 2016, and they headlined at the Depot in the Park Festival in Cardiff, United Kingdom on August 5, 2017. In July 2019, they played the North Nibley Festival in England.{{Cite web |title=Line up for Nibley 2019 |url=https://nibleyfestival.co.uk/lineup/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190115023246/https://nibleyfestival.co.uk/lineup/ |archive-date=January 15, 2019 |access-date=November 9, 2019 |website=Nibleyfestival.co.uk}}Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/49MoasxySdU Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20171117073929/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49MoasxySdU Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{Cite web |date=August 21, 2016 |title=Sugarhill Gang "Rappers Delight – V Festival, UK, 20.08.2016 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49MoasxySdU |access-date=March 28, 2020 |publisher=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}{{Cite web |date=January 16, 2017 |title=The Sugarhill Gang // Rappers Delight // Kendal Calling 2016 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZNebGYM0bE |access-date=March 28, 2020 |via=YouTube}}{{Cite web |date=December 26, 2016 |title=The Sugarhill Gang (1) @ Clockenflap 2016 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZNebGYM0bE |access-date=March 28, 2020 |via=YouTube}}
In 2019, the Sugarhill Gang celebrated the 40th anniversary of the release of "Rapper's Delight" and the group's formation. They went on a worldwide tour called Rapper's Delight 40th Anniversary World Tour. The gang made new music in early 2019. The tour lasted from May 24 to July 26, 2019.{{Cite news |date=January 10, 2019 |title=Hip-Hop Icons the Sugarhill Gang Celebrate the 40th Anniversary of 'Rapper's Delight' |work=Los Angeles Sentinel |url=https://lasentinel.net/hip-hop-icons-the-sugarhill-gang-celebrate-the-40th-anniversary-of-rappers-delight.html |access-date=March 28, 2020}}{{Cite web |date=April 17, 2019 |title=Sugarhill Gang 40th Anniversary Tour |url=https://diplomatsofsound.org/sugar-hill-gang-40th-anniversary-tour/ |access-date=March 28, 2020 |website=Diplomatofsound.org}}{{Cite web |title=The Sugarhill Gang: Live! |url=https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/55565185967?aff=efbneb |access-date=October 13, 2021 |website=Eventbrite.co.uk}}
On October 25, 2019, the group performed "Rapper's Delight" on Jimmy Kimmel Live!.{{Cite web |date=October 25, 2019 |title=SugarHill Gang – Rapper's Delight |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLf4i078eDc |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191102182729/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLf4i078eDc&gl=US&hl=en |archive-date=November 2, 2019 |access-date=March 28, 2020 |via=YouTube}}
The group played the halftime show at the Arizona Cardinals vs Baltimore Ravens game on October 29, 2023
As of 2024, the group consists of Wonder Mike, Master Gee, Hen Dogg, DJ T-Dynasty and Ethiopian King.{{Cite web |last=Ju |first=Shirley |date=January 23, 2024 |title=How The Sugarhill Gang's Lives Changed After "Rapper's Delight" - The Source |url=https://thesource.com/2024/01/23/how-the-sugarhill-gangs-lives-changed-after-rappers-delight/,%20https://thesource.com/2024/01/23/how-the-sugarhill-gangs-lives-changed-after-rappers-delight/ |access-date=February 13, 2024 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=September 13, 2023 |title=Legendary rap group Sugarhill Gang discuss their impact on 50 years of hip-hop |url=https://rollingout.com/2023/09/13/rap-group-sugarhill-gang-hip-hop/ |access-date=February 13, 2024 |website=rollingout.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2023-09-06 |title=The Sugarhill Gang on music Walk Of Fame honour: It is a mind-blowing experience |url=https://www.theargus.co.uk/leisure/national/23772927.sugarhill-gang-music-walk-fame-honour-mind-blowing-experience/ |access-date=2024-07-15 |website=The Argus |language=en}}
Discography
{{Infobox artist discography
| Artist = The Sugarhill Gang
| Image =
| Caption =
| Studio = 5
| Live =
| Compilation = 9
| Video =
| Music videos =
| EP =
| Singles = 15
}}
The discography of the Sugarhill Gang includes five studio albums, nine compilations and fifteen singles.
=Studio albums=
=Compilation albums=
- Sugarhill Gang Greatest Hits (1984)
- Boyz from Da Hill (1994)
- Ain't Nothin' but a Party (1998)
- Hip Hop Anniversary Europe Tour: Sugarhill Gang Live (2008)
=Singles=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
! rowspan="2" style="width:18em;" |Title ! rowspan="2" |Year ! colspan="10" |Peak chart positions ! rowspan="2"|Certifications ! rowspan="2" |Album |
| scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:85%" |US {{Cite magazine |title=Sugarhill Gang Chart History, Hot 100 |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/sugarhill-gang/chart-history/hsi/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=September 28, 2021}} ! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:85%" |US ! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:85%" |AUS ! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:85%" |BEL (FL) ! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:85%" |CAN
! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:85%" |GER ! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:85%" |NLD ! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:85%" |NZ ! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:85%" |SWI ! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:85%" |UK |
|---|
| scope="row" |"Rapper's Delight"
|1979 |36 |4 |37 |2 |1 |3 |2 |18 |2 |3 |
| rowspan="2" |Sugarhill Gang |
| scope="row" |"Rapper's Reprise"
| rowspan="2" |1980 |— |— |— |— |— |— |— |— |— |— | |
| scope="row" |"8th Wonder"
|82 |15 |— |— |— |— |— |— |— |— | | rowspan="3" |8th Wonder |
| scope="row" |"Apache{{Broken anchor|date=2025-04-10|bot=User:Cewbot/log/20201008/configuration|target_link=Apache (instrumental)#The Sugarhill Gang: "Apache" (1981)|reason= The anchor (The Sugarhill Gang: "Apache" (1981)) has been deleted.|diff_id=818712010}}"
| rowspan="2" |1981 |53 |13 |— |33 |— |— |— |— |— |— | |
| scope="row" |"Showdown" (credited as The Furious Five meets The Sugarhill Gang)
|— |49 |— |— |— |— |— |— |— |— | |
| scope="row" |"The Lover in You"
|1982 |— |55 |— |— |— |— |— |— |— |54 | | rowspan="4" |Rappin' Down Town |
| scope="row" |"The Word Is Out"
| rowspan="3" |1983 |— |71 |— |— |— |— |— |— |— |— | |
| scope="row" |"Be a Winner"
|— |— |— |— |— |— |— |— |— |— | |
| scope="row" |"Kick It Live from 9 to 5"
|— |50 |— |— |— |— |— |— |— |— | |
| scope="row" |"Livin' in the Fast Lane"
| rowspan="2" |1984 |— |78 |— |— |— |— |— |— |— |— | | rowspan="2" |Livin' in the Fast Lane |
| scope="row" |"Troy" / "Girls"
|— |— |— |— |— |— |— |— |— |— | |
| scope="row" |"The Down Beat"
| rowspan="2" |1985 |— |— |— |— |— |— |— |— |— |— | | rowspan="2" {{N/A|Non-album singles}} |
| scope="row" |"Work, Work the Body"
|— |— |— |— |— |— |— |— |— |— | |
| scope="row" |"Lala Song" (credited as Bob Sinclar featuring The Sugarhill Gang)
|2009 |— |— |— |9 |— |55 |7 |— |68 |— | |
| colspan="15" style="text-align:center; font-size:9pt;"| "—" denotes releases that did not chart. |
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- {{allmusic}}
- [http://sugarhillgang.wave.cat/ Sugarhill Gang playlist on WaveCat]
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9bQtjyace8 "I Want My Name Back" documentary on the Sugar Hill Gang, Featuring Master Gee and Wonder Mike]
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nX004YWC9mM Master Gee interview]
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcCK99wHrk0 The Sugarhill Gang – Rapper's Delight (Official Video)]
{{The Sugarhill Gang}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sugarhill Gang, The}}
Category:East Coast hip-hop groups
Category:Rappers from New Jersey
Category:African-American musical groups
Category:1979 establishments in New Jersey
Category:Musical groups established in 1979
Category:Musical trios from New Jersey
Category:Hansa Records artists
Category:Zafiro (record label) artists