On September 16, 1979, Sugar Hill Gang introduced the rest of the world to a new sound that would change music forever.
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With the release of ‘Rapper’s Delight’, hip-hop became a mainstream genre, introducing people all over the world to the sounds that were once only familiar to the East Coast.
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Often referred to as the first rap song, ‘Rapper’s Delight’ was released as a 15 minute long 12-inch. Despite its length, black radio stations began to give the song airplay. The song became so popular that Sugar Hill Gang later recorded a seven minute version of the song for pop stations.
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Though the song topped the charts, making it to the Billboard Hot 100 charts and selling over 2 million copies in the U.S., it did spark controversy in the hip-hop community.
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One concern was that the song did not reflect the anger of the urban youth that was usually discussed in rap music. There was also criticism because two of the group’s members were from New Jersey and none of them were ever a MC or a DJ, writes #NPR.
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Regardless, the song’s impact on the music industry is undeniable. The song marks the beginning of a new chart topping genre.
