Sugar Hill Records have finally paid their artists! MC Sha Rock was the first to break the news. Sugar Hill is basically hip-hop. The infamous song “Rapper’s Delight” was the first hip-hop song. It was released under Sugar Hill Records by The Sugarhill Gang in 1979. Sugar Hill Records was home to The Crash Crew, Funky 4+1 More, and The Furious 5. MC Sha, the first female MC, worked hard for decades to make this happen. She has been working on this case since the early 90s.
MC Sha Wins Case
At first, no one wanted to file a lawsuit against Sugar Hill Records, but MC Sha Rock found Artist Rights Enforcement. It’s an agency that fights for the rights of all artists and MC Sha was their first hip-hop client. Over 40 years since his debut, they won the case after many people urged MC Sha Rock to just let it go. The first female MC was determined to prove everyone wrong and get her fair justice. Artists that were under Sugar Hill will receive back royalties and from here on out, they will receive all publishing and writing monies.
Sugar Hill records changed the world pic.twitter.com/ATxtAY9cq8
— soleil (@nursesharkfin) June 12, 2022
The Message
Joe and Sylvia Robinson founded the Sugar Hill Records label in the 1970s. The label was home to many hip-hop staple songs, “The Message,” a legendary song. Many say that this is one of the most important hip-hop songs ever. In 2002, it was added to the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress, which is a first from the hip-hop culture. Melle Mel, Rahiem, Kidd Creole, and Scorpio, of the Furious Five, are responsible for this legendary hit.
In 2012, according to Rolling Stone magazine, “The Message” is the greatest hip-hop song of all time. According to the prestigious publication, “The Message” is the first song to let listeners in on what really goes on inside the hood across the United States. You can tell “The Message” has a big impact hip-hop when you hear songs from artists like N.W.A., Jay-Z, and The Notorious B.I.G. It’s crazy how one of the biggest hits ever comes from artists who did not want it at first. Good thing they changed their mind because now they’re hip-hop royalty.
Written by: Brandon Simmons