Sugarhill Gang celebrates 30th anniversary of their groundbreaking single, "Rapper's Delight"

November 4, 8:26 PMNY Hip-Hop Music Scene ExaminerCrystal Williams

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Hip-hop connoisseurs young and old can yell in celebration, "to the hip, hip, hop, ya don't stop!", part of the lyrics to The Sugarhill Gang's ever-so-catchy, still-relevant, "Rapper's Delight", as it approaches its 30th anniversary this month.

Although "Rapper's Delight" will reach its 30th this year (originally released in 1979), The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum will pay homage to the single (credited as the first song to popularize hip-hop across
the globe) during its The Past, The Present, and Future of Hip-Hop Tribute Concert, scheduled to be held in
Cleveland, Ohio, this January. The concert will also feature a tribute legendary hip-hop radio DJ
Mr. Magic, (who passed earlier this month), as well as a featured performance from The Sugarhill Gang themselves.

"Rapper's Delight" has been celebrated in pop culture with various features on  television shows, commercials, and video games.  A remake of the song was released in 1998 by artists Erick Sermon, Keith Murray and Redman (Def Squad). The song was quoted as #248 on Rolling Stone's The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list, and #2 on VH1's 100 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs list.  To date, "Rapper's Delight" has sold 8 million records worldwide.