Sugar Hill Records (aka Sugarhill Records) achieved a landmark first when it released the song Rapper’s Delight in 1979. It went on to become the first rap single to enter the US Billboard charts (first the R&B Billboard listing and, on January 5th 1980, the – general – singles chart).
Rapper’s Delight had achieved the same historic chart feat in the UK a month prior (December 1st, 1979) when it became the first rap record to enter the UK singles chart. It would achieve a Top 3 peak sale position).

Sugar Hill Records was an independent record label, founded by New Jersey born, New York based singer, songwriter and producer Sylvia Robinson (1936-2011). Robinson drew on her experience at the label with decades-prior experience in song writing (as half of the duo Mikey & Sylvia) and record production. Utilising her knowledge of the industry and the studio and her son’s contacts, she tapped into the then-burgeoning rap scene by amassing a group of unknown rappers to record and capitalise on rap which had been developing in the city since the early 1970s.

The achievements of Sugar Hill Records and the group who recorded Rapper’s Delight – quickly dubbed the Sugar Hill Gang – would set the benchmark for the commoditisation of rap culture (dee-jaying, rapping, break-dancing, graffiti writing). What Sylvia Robinson and her husband Joe achieved would set in stall the expectations of those who could rap, dee-jay or break-dance. Within fifteen years rap music would become the biggest-selling musical genre in the world.

Sugar Hill Records signed rap artists of significance: Grand Master Flash & the Furious Five, who are credited with recording and releasing the first ‘conscious’ street and political critique, The Message (1982); the co-ed rap group Funky 4 + 1 More and the first female rap outfit, the Sequence.

Sylvia and Joe Robinson’s achievements at Sugar Hill Records would lead to the creation of key independent rap labels like Def Jam, Tommy Boy and, with Sean ‘P Diddy’ Combs’s Bad Boy imprint, distribution deals with a ‘major’ label (at the time, Clive Davis’s Arista Records).

The commercial, critical and cultural success of the label had a hand in changing the value judgements of rappers and rap fans as to what constituted rap authenticity. Being signed to the ‘right’ label and their understanding of rap credibility, musicality and marketing subsequently eclipsed being the best, but unsigned, local DJ, rapper or dancer.

The success of Sugar Hill Records’ Rapper’s Delight is also significant as the song’s international success (sales of more than 14 million) highlighted the contentious issue of uncleared sampling – the song features the recognisable rhythm of Chic’s Good Times hit song. Chic’s founders and artists Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards later sued the Robinsons for credit and a 50% share in future profits.

Sugar Hill Records sold its back catalogue to Rhino Records in the 1990s. Its studios operated until 2002.

Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2007.

The Sugar Hill Gang and the Sequence were inducted in the Hip Hop Hall of Fame in 2014.