The Sugarhill Gang with Grandmaster Melle Mel & Scorpio (of the Furious 5) [US]

The evolution of Hip Hop has come a long way from its humble beginnings back in the 1970s. Now the highest grossing genre in pop culture, Hip Hop has taken over the airwaves, fashion, television, movies and more.

In 2019, the Sugarhill Gang​​, one of Hip Hop’s legendary groups, will be celebrating the ​40th anniversary of their hit ​“Rapper’s Delight.” Released on Sugarhill Records, the song was produced by Sylvia Robinson and featured songwriting from Nile Rogers and Bernard Edwards. It was the first rap single to become a ​Top 40 hit on the ​Billboard Hot 100 and is ​RIAA certified 2x Platinum​​. The song became an international hit in the UK, Canada, France, Germany, Sweden, and Switzerland to name a few. It has been featured on TV and in movies as well as the lyrics sampled by various artists.

“We are very excited to celebrate the 40th anniversary of “Rapper’s Delight.” As an iconic and global success, it stands as a true testament of the power of hip hop music,” states Hendogg. “To see the crowds of people, generation after generation sing this song and to be able to perform this song all over the world is a blessing.”

To commemorate this milestone, the group along with Ewing Athletics will be releasing a sneaker to celebrate the single and the label.

In more legendary hip hop news, the Sugarhill Gang along with the architects ​Grandmaster Melle Mel and ​Scorpio of ​The Furious 5 have joined forces to form a supergroup. This marks a big moment for the culture as these two groups put the genre on the map.

Grandmaster Melle Mel and Scorpio along with group members The Creole Kidd, Keith Cowboy, and Rahiem created some of the most iconic songs that includes ​platinum-selling classic ​“The Message,” which became the first Hip Hop record inducted into the ​Grammy Hall of Fame and the ​Rock & Roll Hall of Fame,​​ and anti-drug song ​“White Lines (Don’t Don’t Do It).” “White Lines” was also covered by mega new wave band Duran Duran in 1995 and peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart.

With this new alliance, they are already in the studio recording new music as well as currently booking dates for the US and European tour in early 2019.

“This is history in the making. We’ve seen the evolution of Hip Hop and rap go from a place where there was a lot of naysayers to it being a full-blown respected genre taking over pop culture. This Is amazing!” states Scorpio of The Furious 5. “To be successful doing what we love and now joining together to continue to make history is a blessing.”

The Sugarhill Gang is made up of original members Wonder Mike (Michael Wright), Master Gee (Guy O’Brien) and Henry Jackson (Big Bank Hank) who helped to put hip hop and rap on the map. In 1979, the group burst onto the scene with the global hit “Rapper’s Delight” who went on the to top charts all over the world and sell over eight million copies. They went on to release hits as “Apache,” “8th Wonder” and “Living in the Fast Lane.” Wonder Mike and Master Gee went on and teamed up with Henry Williams (Hendogg) and DJ T. Dynasty both who has performed with the group for 20 years and counting creating new music, while still pleasing the crowds with their greatest hits. In 2009, they released their first song in 25 years with international DJ phenom Bob Sinclair called “LaLa Song,” which quickly became an uber-hit overseas, securing Song of the Year for many European countries, including Italy. Wonder Mike, Master Gee, Hendogg and DJ Dynasty continue their tradition of creating a party atmosphere that makes everyone dance the night away as they perform for sold out crowds throughout the world.

Grandmaster Melle Mel and Scorpio are two of the original members of the iconic hip hop group Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five. Composed of one DJ (Grandmaster Flash) and five rappers (Melle Mel, The Kidd Creole, Keef Cowboy, Mr. Ness/Scorpio, and Rahiem), the group’s use of turntablism, break-beat deejaying, and conscious lyricism was significant in the early development of hip hop music. The group signed to Sugar Hill Records where they rose to prominence. In 19xx, the group disbanded and became Grandmaster Melle Mel & the Furious Five where they released several hits including “The Message,” “White Lines,” and a host of others. The group made several reunions but the legacy continues on with only Grandmaster Melle Mel and Scorpio as remaining members entertaining fans around the world.