45 years ago today, The Sugarhill Gang dropped their debut single “Rapper’s Delight” on September 16, 1979.
Produced by Sylvia Robinson, “Rapper’s Delight” is credited for introducing Hip-Hop music to a wide audience, reaching the top 40 in the United States.
The song was much more successful internationally, reaching #1 on the Canadian Top Singles chart in January 1980, #1 on the Dutch Top 40, and #3 on the UK Singles Chart. In 1980, the song was the anchor of the group’s first album “The Sugarhill Gang.”
In 2014, the record was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.