'Rapper's Delight': How hip-hop got its first record deal

By Juana Summers,

Kat Lonsdorf, Patrick Jarenwattananon

Published August 8, 2023 at 5:23 PM EDT

Rap pioneers the Sugarhill Gang (left to right: Wonder Mike, Master G and Big Bank Hank) perform live circa 1979.

Hip-hop was born at a party in 1973, but it'd be another six years until the first commercial hip-hop records. People have differing views of it, but the release of "Rapper's Delight" changed history.

Juana Summers

Juana Summers is a co-host of NPR's All Things Considered, alongside Ailsa Chang, Ari Shapiro and Mary Louise Kelly. She joined All Things Considered in June 2022.

Kat Lonsdorf

Patrick Jarenwattananon

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