Sugarhill Gang is celebrating the 40th anniversary of their iconic hit ‘Rapper’s Delight’ which sold over eight million copies since it came out in 1979. Released on Sugarhill Records, the song became an international hit. Henry Willims (Hendogg) says, “To see the crowds of people, generation after generation, sing this song and to be able to perform it all over the world is a blessing.”
The group also mark the 40th anniversary by looking forward to their next chapter. Along with fellow Hip Hop architects Grandmaster Melle Mel and Scorpio of The Furious 5, they have joined forces to form a supergroup. This is a hugely significant event in Hip Hop culture, these two groups put the genre on the map.
Grandmaster Melle Mel and Scorpio, along with fellow MCs The Creole Kidd, Keith Cowboy, and Rahiem, have created some of the genre’s most iconic songs, including platinum selling classic ‘The Message’, the first Hip Hop record to be inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Anti-drug song ‘White Lines (Don’t Do It) was covered by mega new wave band Duran Duran in 1995, peaking at number five on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart and hits like ‘Beat Street’ and ‘Step Off’ have become genre defining classics.
Through their alliance, these Hip Hop legends are already in the studio recording new music while still booking dates for their 2019 US and European tour. “This is history in the making. We’ve seen the evolution of Hip Hop and Rap go from a place where there was a lot of naysayers to it being a full-blown respected genre taking over pop culture. This Is amazing!” says Scorpio of The Furious 5. “To be successful doing what we love and now joining together to continue to make history is a blessing.”
The Sugarhill Gang is made up of original members Wonder Mike (Michael Wright), Master Gee (Guy O’Brien) and Henry Jackson (Big Bank Hank) who helped to put Hip Hop and Rap on the map. Big Bank Hank passed away at 57 years old in Englewood, New Jersey, due to complications from cancer.
In 1979, the group burst onto the scene with the global hit ‘Rapper’s Delight’ and released hits like ‘Apache’, ‘8th Wonder’ and ‘Living in the Fast Lane’. Wonder Mike and Master Gee teamed up with Henry Williams (Hendogg) and DJ T. Dynasty, both of whom have performed with the group for over twenty years. In 2009, the group released their first song in 25 years with international DJ phenomenon Bob Sinclair.
Leave a Comment