The Sugarhill Gang facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Sugarhill Gang
The Sugarhill Gang in 2023
Background information
Origin	Englewood, New Jersey, U.S.
Genres	Hip hop
Years active	1979–1985, 1994–present
Labels	Sugar Hill
Associated acts	Joey Robinson Jr. Henry "Hen Dogg" Williams The Furious Five The Sequence
Members	Wonder Mike Master Gee
Past members	Big Bank Hank

The Sugarhill Gang is an American hip hop group. They formed in 1979 in Englewood, New Jersey. Their famous song "Rapper's Delight" came out the same year. It was the first rap song (called a single) to become a "top 40 hit" on the Billboard Hot 100 music chart. This means it was one of the 40 most popular songs in the U.S. at the time. It reached number 36 on January 12, 1980.

"Rapper's Delight" was their only big hit in the U.S. However, they had more success in Europe until the mid-1980s. The group got back together in 1994 and went on a world tour in 2016.

How the Group Started

The group members were Michael "Wonder Mike" Wright, Henry "Big Bank Hank" Jackson, and Guy "Master Gee" O'Brien. They all came from Englewood, New Jersey.

A producer named Sylvia Robinson brought them together. She started Sugar Hill Records with her husband, Joe Robinson. The group and the record company were named after the Sugar Hill, Harlem neighborhood in New York City.

Their 1979 song "Rapper's Delight" was a huge success. It was the first rap song to make it into the top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The group did not have another top 40 hit in the U.S. But they had several hits in Europe. These included songs like "Apache" and "8th Wonder." They even performed "8th Wonder" on the American TV music show Soul Train in 1981. Other European hits were "Rapper's Reprise (Jam Jam)" and "Showdown" (with The Furious Five). The group slowly became less active and broke up in 1985.

Later Years and Tours

The Sugarhill Gang on Tour, 2016

In 1999, the three original members got back together. They recorded an album for children called Jump On It! which featured hip hop music.

After 2005, Wonder Mike and Master Gee (who was also known as Hen Dogg) left Sugarhill Records. The original members (except for Big Bank Hank) performed under different names. They used names like "The Original Sugar" or "Rapper's Delight Featuring Wonder Mike and Master Gee." This was because of some legal issues about using the name 'Sugarhill Gang.'

Sadly, on November 11, 2014, Big Bank Hank passed away at age 58 after a long illness.

In 2016, the remaining original members, Wonder Mike and Master Gee, started their first world tour in over ten years. They performed as The Sugarhill Gang. They played at the Art of Rap festival tour in 2016. They also performed at the V Festival in the UK as part of their world tour. Other places they visited included the Clockenflap Festival in Hong Kong in November 2016. They also headlined the Depot in the Park Festival in Cardiff, United Kingdom, in August 2017. In July 2019, they played at the North Nibley Festival in Gloucestershire, UK.

In 2019, The Sugarhill Gang celebrated a big milestone: the 40th anniversary of "Rapper's Delight" and the group's start. They went on a "Rapper's Delight 40th Anniversary World Tour." The group also released new music in early 2019. The tour ran from May 24 to July 26, 2019. They continue to go on tours even after the COVID-19 pandemic.

On October 25, 2019, the group performed "Rapper's Delight" on the TV show Jimmy Kimmel Live!.

Music by The Sugarhill Gang

The Sugarhill Gang has released five studio albums, nine compilation albums, and fifteen singles.

Studio Albums

• Sugarhill Gang (1980)
• 8th Wonder (1981)
• Rappin' Down Town (1983)
• Livin' in the Fast Lane (1984)
• Jump On It! (1999)

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

• "Rapper's Delight" (1979)
• "Rapper's Reprise" (1980)
• "8th Wonder" (1980)
• "Apache" (1981)
• "Showdown" (with The Furious Five) (1981)
• "The Lover in You" (1982)
• "The Word Is Out" (1983)
• "Be a Winner" (1983)
• "Kick It Live from 9 to 5" (1983)
• "Livin' in the Fast Lane" (1984)
• "Troy" / "Girls" (1984)
• "The Down Beat" (1985)
• "Work, Work the Body" (1985)
• "Rapper's Delight (Hip Hop Remix '89)" (1989)
• "Lala Song" (with Bob Sinclar) (2009)

See also

In Spanish: The Sugarhill Gang para niños