2589. Sugarhill Gang - ‘Rapper’s Delight’ (1979)
Now what you hear is not a test I’m rapping to the beat
from the album Sugarhill Gang
Where do you even begin when talking about ‘Rapper’s Delight’? It’s very easy to point to revered, groundbreaking singles and say that they “changed the world”, but there is no doubt that the Sugarhill Gang’s 1979 recording, the first hip hop track to gain widespread attention, actually did alter the way culture progressed across the next four decades. ‘Rapper’s Delight’ opened the door for new generations of black artists, gave black youth a unique voice, and allowed the records that followed in its wake to address social and political issues that, without this platform, would likely have remained unspoken and obscured.
Nobody could have known all that in 1979, of course, and this newfangled rap style was seen by some as a fad - so how does ‘Rapper’s Delight’, a fifteen-minute epic that could have easily descended into novelty as its minutes wore on, hold up today? From the Chic sample, to the iconic opening declaration, right on down to Wonder Mike’s verse about going over to a friend’s house to eat, ‘Rapper’s Delight’ is still a joy, incorporating humour, braggadocio, scenes from everyday life, pop culture references, and calls to the dance floor. With so much ground covered so skilfully, ‘Rapper’s Delight’ succeeds as both an artistic blueprint and as pure entertainment - it’s not just one of the most important recordings of the twentieth century, it’s tons of fun, too, regardless of whether you’re listening in 1979 or 2019.
‘Rapper’s Delight’ audio:
Chart peaks: UK #3, US #36, AUS #37
Written by Richard Eric, 23/2/19
