Sugarhill Gang still sweet 33 years after 'Rapper's Delight'

Once the song hit the airwaves it was instant hit.

BBH said WXTU played the record first.


“While the record was playing, (the DJ) got back on the air and made an announcement ‘Please don’t call the radio station anymore. The radio station’s lines are jammed, we’re going to play it back to back,’” BBH recalls. “He played it for 30 minutes and from that point on rap took hold and it’s never stopped since.”

BBH said they weren’t expecting the overnight success of the song.

“Suppose I bought you two lottery tickets and I handed you one and I told you, ‘Tomorrow that’s going to be the winning number,’” he said. “You take that lottery ticket and go home. And you wake up the next morning and that’s the winning number and that’s how hip-hop took its hold. It just blew up.”

“Rapper’s Delight” sold more than 18 million records worldwide.

“Who would have ever dreamed it? We caught what’s called that perfect wave, and rap has transcended generation,” he said. “It’s a classic. When you think of standards in any songs, we’re a classic. We’ve been inducted in the Library of Congress. We’ve been nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. This record has transcended all these generations and I’m just glad to be part of it.”

Although there has been some accusations from Grandmaster Caz that he, not BBH, wrote his part in “Rapper’s Delight.”

“I love Grandmaster Caz to death,” he said. “We were all part of the same group. We all wrote our own raps and lyrics. He never wrote anything of mine.”

Today, the members of Sugarhill Gang are still touring — up to 200 dates a year — and will travel to Europe and South America this year.

BBH said as a member of Sugarhill Gang he has traveled the world and is proud that they’re still able to share their music.

“I see groups that are hot one minute and next time you see them they’re asking if you want a soda with that Happy Meal,” he said. “We’ve had the ability to transcend generations and that’s a gift. That’s a blessing and I’m grateful for that.”


If you go ...       

WHAT: Sugarhill Gang

WHEN: Friday, Jan. 18; they will go on sometime after 9 p.m. following Boogie Nights event

WHERE: Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races, 750 Hollywood Drive, Charles Town, W.Va.

COST: Free

CONTACT: Go to www.hollywoodcasinocharlestown.com

MORE: Must be 21 or older with proper ID to enter.