BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1979
REQUEST
“Rapper’s Delight” is a hip-hop song released in September 1979 by The Sugarhill Gang, and produced by ex-Mickey and Sylvia member Sylvia Robinson.
While it was not the first single to include rapping, it is generally considered to be the song that introduced hip hop music to audiences in the United States and around the world (and the very first full-length rap song, which featured rapping parts throughout the entire song, unlike the first single). The song is ranked number 251 on the Rolling Stone magazine’s list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time and number 2 on VH1’s 100 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs. It is also included in NPR’s list of the 100 most important American musical works of the 20th century. It was preserved into the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress in 2011. Songs on the National Recording Registry are “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”
The song also notably includes musical parts from Chic’s “Good Times”, resulting in band members Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards suing Sugar Hill Records over copyright; a settlement reached allowed the two to receive songwriter credits.
The song was recorded in a single take. There are three versions of the original version of the song: 14:35 (12″ long version), 6:30 (12″ short version), and 3:55 (7″ shortened single version).
In the U.S. the song reached #36 on the Billboard Hot 100. Internationally “Rappers Delight” hit #1 Netherlands, #1 Canada and #3 U.K. while also making the top five inseveral other European countries.
SIDE A:
Rapper’s Delight (Long Version) 14:35
SIDE B:
Rapper’s Delight (Short Version) 6:35
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
U.S. CHART HISTORY:
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Rapper’s Delight | U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | #36 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Metronome – 0930.002
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Single, Special Disco-Version
Country: Germany
Released: 1979
Genre: Hip Hop, Funk / Soul
Style: Disco
CREDITS:
Producer – Sylvia Inc.*
Written-By – G. O’Brien*, H. Jackson*, M. Wright*, S. Robinson*
NOTES:
[Front cover]
Super Disco Sound Single 30 cm
Special Disco-Version
[Back cover]
Music taken form [sic] “Good Times” by CHIC
Made In Germany
Find the 12″ on DISCOGS
VINYL RESTORATION BY:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net
EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge: Ortofon 2M
Stylus: Ortofon 2M Bronze
Isolation: Auralex Acoustics ISO-Tone Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Phono Pre-amp: Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Tube: Sovtek 12AX7LPS Vacuum Tube
Soundcard: ESI Juli@
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans: Epson Workforce WF-7610 Professional Printer/Scanner
SOFTWARE USED:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling: iZotope RX Advanced 2, ocenaudio
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removal: Manual
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator
RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi
¡Thank you very much man! Excellent post.
Thanks so much for this DJPaul, especially the 14 minute version which I thought had been lost to history!!!!
Loved this for many years but i was amazed sometime around 15 years ago when i first heard the 14 minute version. That is my favourite version for sure! Part of me wishes it was even longer!!
I love this era of Hip Hop, always had a fantastic beat that poured pounding bass through my Boom Box and those cleaver rap lyrics, that defined the way of life back then, always a fun time.
Also loved Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five with “The Message” and “White Lines” and the later 80’s with The Beastie Boys and Run DMC.
Great Post Paul.
Oops, I used one Not too many. But I hope people can see past it and get my drift. Otherwise it is not, I repeat not, Orwellian doublespeak, but a stupid mistake.
Funny to hear this played back then and see people’s faces light up, when they just heared the single version on mainstream television.”Did I hear that one right?” they mimicked loudly. (I didn’t like Superman, you know. Until the Dean Cain version, that is, and he was made fun of too, but in a very different way..) But I liked this new style and even the cutting and pasting of musiclayers underneath it. The rap was funny, luckily, as I do not think war, death shooting, raping, driving too big cars on a loan just for image and women are… Read more »
It’s more than a classic, it’s history. What a paradox that it topped the charts around the world, but not in the US. I remember seeing them on TV, cool, but why these guys don’t sing only talk, LOL? Well, I found out later, thx to a local radio station which played all the freshest stuff from the US, Flash, Melle Mel, Afrika, and all the electro-funk jams, Run-DMC,Beastie Boys, LL, De La Soul, NWA, Public Enemy, 2 Live Crew, Dre & Snoop and all other old school tracks they’ve made it big. It took a while, until 1984, when… Read more »
Yes, but there is a very rare mix at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8NNZKRifdA
3:43-5:38 is my favorite part!
5:14+ with that air horn is the bomb!! Play that in the car at high volume and I dare you to try to drive the speed limit.
This mix can be found on Everybody Dance (Remixed Dance Classics) (CD1) on Rhino Records.
-Fred
Even more samples in this fantastic 10 min Ultimix
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALwgDiPBb0U
Hip-Hop and Rap was born with this record. It is a good jam and I never get tired of playing it. No matter where you first heard this record you can never forget the opening line.
I agree DJVeteran. It’s a classic 🙂
Thanks for the fantastic post, Paul! -Fred
Happy to do it Fred 🙂
I like this one … great choice …
Thank you MAN 🙂
What a big memory this song was to me Paul. It was the first 12-inch single I ever purchased, along with The Invisible Man’s Band “All Night Thing.” I became obsessed with this record and sat by my little cassette recorder to play and pause it so I could learn all the words. I loved the rhythm track of this to “Good Times” by Chic and was really impressed that it was played and not sampled during the time. It started my love affair with Hip Hop because it was fun and funky. I like these old school raps better… Read more »
Were we separated at birth, Jeff? 🙂
I’ve always LOVED “All Night Thing“ and spent hours trying to learn all the lyrics. How many tape recorders I destroyed with playing forward, rewinding and remixing and re-editing. Dear me, memories. Sentimental journey, here I come 🙂
It certainly sounds like it Song And Dance! I must say, it is so cool to meet like-minded individuals on Paul’s site. I get so emotional when someone like yourself enjoys so much of the music I loved while growing up. You are a fantastic person!!
Jeff
I must have been separated from the both of you way too soon lol I am not familiar with “All Night Thing” I must check it out 🙂
Oh Paul, you and Song And Dance really brightened my day!! It’s a thrill to know I have musical brothers like you two!! Oh and yes, please check out “All Night Thing” by The Invisible Man’s Band. Wait…I know, I’ll send you the record. Hey, it’s really nice that you posted a wish-list of records you’d eventually like. Some cool discoveries are there. Like the Hot Tracks issue with the “Sadeness Part 1” by Enigma. I had no idea that they had to change it up for subsequent releases because of the samples that were employed. This would be a… Read more »
Classic and I did not know the album art was that great! I did not have the short version by the way. Thanks!
You’re welcome Martijn. I love the artwork too 🙂
Hot classic oldskool!
Thanks Paul!
You’re welcome Duckmite 🙂
BAM! There we are. Said a hip-hop, the hibbit…. LEGENDARY. Can’t wait to get home, download and listen to both versions. Awesome. Thank you Paul.
“Say up jump the boogie to the rhythm of the boogie the beat”
Enjoy! Song and Dance 🙂