Tuesday is here! This week I am dedicating this week’s open threads to some influential hip hop artists.
Planet Rock- Afrika Bambaataa
https://www.youtube.com/v/9lDCYjb8RHk?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0
Afrika Bambaataa is an American DJ from the South Bronx, New York who was instrumental in the early development of hip hop throughout the 1980s. Afrika Bambaataa is one of the three originators of break-beat deejaying, and is respectfully known as the “Grandfather” and the Amen Ra of Universal Hip Hop Culture as well as the Father of The Electro Funk Sound. Through his co-opting of the street gang theBlack Spades into the music and culture-oriented Universal Zulu Nation, he is responsible for spreading hip hop culture throughout the world. On September 27, 2007, he was nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Rapper’s Delight
https://www.youtube.com/v/TW9RUmpR-KM?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0
The Sugarhill Gang is an American hip hop group, known mostly for their 1979 hit, “Rapper’s Delight”, the first hip hop single to become aTop 40 hit. The song uses the instrumental track from the classic hit “Good Times” by Chic as its foundation.
The members, all from Englewood, New Jersey, called themselves Wonder Mike, Big Bank Hank and Master Gee. They were assembled into a group by producer Sylvia Robinson who also founded Sugar Hill Records, along with her husband, the record mogul Joe Robinson.
“Rapper’s Delight” used a track cut from a Sugar Hill house band called Positive Force with Chip Shearin on bass and Brian Morgan on guitar. The track sampled “Good Times” by Chic. Big Bank Hank’s verses were written by Grandmaster Caz. However, despite the record’s success, Caz did not receive any royalties for his contribution. Chic’s Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards filed alawsuit for copyright infringement over “Rapper’s Delight”, the first of many such legal battles for rap. It was settled out of court, leaving Rodgers with a large cut of all future royalties.
The Sugarhill Gang never again topped the charts, though they had a few minor hits, such as “Apache”, “Eighth Wonder” (which was performed on the American music show Soul Train in 1981), “Rapper’s Reprise”, and “Showdown” (with the Furious Five). In 1999, they reunited and recorded Jump on It!, a hip hop children’s album. They continue to tour.
***Information courtesy of Wikipedia.org***
