'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 political correspondent for NPR covering race, justice and politics. She has covered politics since 2010 for publications including Politico, CNN and The Associated Press. She got her start in public radio at KBIA in Columbia, Mo., and also previously covered Congress for NPR.

See stories by Juana Summers

Kat Lonsdorf

See stories by Kat Lonsdorf

Patrick Jarenwattananon

See stories by Patrick Jarenwattananon

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