Legendary Sugar Hill Recording Studio destroyed by fire:
- An early morning fire on West Street in Englewood, New Jersey, destroyed the Sugar Hill recording studio, which is believed to be the place that the Sugarhill Gang recorded “Rapper’s Delight” in the late ’70s. The fire began at 2 a.m. ET on Friday (October 11) and was eventually controlled with the assistance of more than 80 firefighters.
The Sugarhill Gang comprised Big Bang Hank, Wonder Mike, and Master Gee, and they released “Rapper’s Delight” in 1979. The song is largely credited as being the first rap radio hit, exposing the masses for the first time to an art form that would eventually sit at the heart of today’s pop culture.
All things must pass, but this blows chunks. Who doesn’t love “Rapper’s Delight,” even if you have some trouble with the cultural onslaught it unleashed?
- i said a hip hop the hippie the hippie
to the hip hip hop, a you dont stop
the rock it to the bang bang boogie say up jumped the boogie
to the rhythm of the boogie, the beat
now what you hear is not a test–i’m rappin to the beat
and me, the groove, and my friends are gonna try to move your feet
see i am wonder mike and i like to say hello
to the black, to the white, the red, and the brown, the purple and yellow
but first i gotta bang bang the boogie to the boogie
say up jump the boogie to the bang bang boogie
let’s rock, you dont stop
rock the riddle that will make your body rock
well so far youve heard my voice but i brought two friends along
and next on the mike is my man hank
come on, hank, sing that song
….i said a hip hop the hippie to the hippie
the hip hip hop, a you dont stop
the rock it to the bang bang boogie say up jumped the boogie
to the rhythm of the boogie, the beat
skiddlee beebop a we rock a scoobie doo
and guess what america we love you
cause ya rock and ya roll with so much soul
you could rock till you’re a hundred and one years old
i dont mean to brag i dont mean to boast
but we like hot butter on our breakfast toast
rock it up baby bubbah
baby bubbah to the boogie da bang bang da boogie
to the beat beat, its so unique
come on everybody and dance to the beat