Now What You Hear Is Not a Test...

In 1979, a group called the Sugarhill Gang came together to record a song, which has made music history. Contrary to popular belief, their song Rapper's Delight was not the first rap song. It was, however, the first rap song to get national attention and to be played on radio stations across the world.

The song was an unlikely hit. It was preformed by young black men who were unknown to the music world. The song was recorded in a rather new, and unusual style (rap) and was over fifteen minutes long. This does not sound like the makings for a hit song in the height of the disco era, does it?

One thing it did have going for it was the sample the fellows decided to rap over. The already popular Good Times by Chic was a good selection, although Niles Rogers was never given credit for the song. Their manager brought their record to a radio station in St. Louis Missouri, and the song was played once. That one exposure kept the radio station's phone lines jammed for twelve hours. People wanted more of that song.

DJs and MCs across the nation began to play the song, and it spread like wildfire. I can only imagine listening to the song for the first time, having heard nothing like it before. The opening, therefore, could not be more fitting.

Now what you hear is not a test
I'm rapping to the beat
And me, the groove, and my friends
Are gonna try to move your feet

A television appearance for the Sugarhill Gang (I believe it was American Bandstand, but don't quote me on that one) solidified their fame. Even well into the 1980's, this appearance was played pretty regularly on MTV. It seemed so out of place in the era of leather and lace to see their afros and elephant-leg bell-bottoms, yet the catchy song remained popular.

When the movie The Wedding Singer came out, the song was revitalized by a hip-hopping grandma, who redid the single. People were enamoured by her performance, and it brought this classic song back into the heart of America.

Rapper's Delight is probably one of the most recognizable songs in the history of hip-hop, as it deserves to be. Not only are the Sugarhill Gang among rap's pioneers, but they did it with flair. It didn't matter that the song was rather disjointed and made little sense. The song was very catchy!

Based on the nostalgia for this song, Flashback records released the album Rapper's Delight and Other Old School Favorites. Now granted, I do remember Rapper's Delight very well, but only because it was on MTV. Heck, I was only a year old when the song came out, so if it were not for MTV, people in my generation probably wouldn't even know the song. But I don't remember any other rap songs from back them.

Well, I thought this was the only truly "old school" song I knew. In fact, it was the only one I could think of before Run DMC did Walk This Way. To my surprise, when I started listening to the album, I knew more than I thought (although not much).

You see, there is one other rap song I remember from "back in the day" -- The Message by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. I would have forgotten all about this song, had it not been for this album. If you don't remember it, let me refresh your memory. Ahem. "It's like a jungle sometimes it makes me wonder how I keep from going under." Yes, it was another memory from MTV! This song even had a real video!

What I didn't know back in the day was that The Message was the first rap album with a political message. Melle Mel (famous for the song White Lines) paints a picture over eerie synthesizer tracks of urban blight. The lyrics are actually chilling.

A child was born, with no state of mind
Blind to the ways of mankind
Got a smile on you with these burning tooth
Cause only god knows what you go through
You grow in the ghetto, living second rate
And your eyes will sing a song of deep hate
The places you play and where you stay
Looks like one great big alleyway
You'll admire all the number book takers
Dogcatchers, pushers and the big money makers
Driving big cars, spending twenties and tens
And you wanna grow up to be just like them

To me, these lyrics say it all. Every artist of today tries to reiterate these lyrics. Moviemakers cash in again and again on this same plot. Melle Mel was fortunate to be the first to tell this truth.

Melle Mel is also noted on this CD for his ode to Jesse Jackson, entitled Jesse. Politically, I disagree with most of what Jackson stands for; however, I like the message of this song. The song is a battle cry for those who are struggling to band together, join the Rainbow Coalition, and "vote, vote, everybody get out and vote!" It basically says that if you do not like the way politics are going, find the guy who believes what you believe, and make your voice be heard. I like that message, even if I don't like Jackson, personally.

Another song of empowerment is the Treacherous Three's Yes We Can-Can. It is a take off of Allen Toussant and The Pointer Sister's songs with the same name. This song is about working hard to survive, with the goal of getting out of the ghetto and off of welfare. A group of men chant the chorus together "Yes we can, yes we can-can, why can't we? We can, you know we can-can!" Damnit, I believe them. The song builds, and the chorus echoes louder and louder, until you are left believing only in success.

While some of the tracks are inspiring, there are several, which are just fun. Newcleus brings on a party song with their bizarre-o Jam on It. The song sounds like it is being sung, in part, by an alien to me. It's a fun song, with an infectious groove, however.

Another fun song is Showdown. This showdown of words is played out between The Furious Five and The Sugarhill Gang. The fellas battle it out to see who are the ultimate rap artists. This showdown is a battle of beats and lyrics. There are no threats of violence, or below-the-belt insults. This, my friends, is what it should be about, rather than the silly "East coast" "West coast" feuds.

I managed to save my personal favorite song for last. The founder of Sugarhill Records, Sylvia Robinson, has her own song on this album. It's Good to Be the Queen allows Sylvia her turn at the mic. She already knows she has created a successful label, and is fully into the scene of wealth and power. She has become the Queen of Sugarhill. Ok, so nothing like this has ever happened to me, but I love this song! The song talks about her new found success and the finer things, which come with it. I bought this CD the same week I bought my new car, and I blasted this song, especially the line "sporting my Rolls and a gray Mercedes!" (Ok, so I have a Jetta, so what).

The song has little to do with me, but I love the woman-in-power thing. I like hearing her tell her story, and feel it is inspiring.

It started back, in seventy-nine
My whole darn future, was on the line
I created, a brand, new sensation
Through my mind and the whole darn nation
With the Big Bank Hank, the Wonder Mike
And this kid called Master G (that's me)
Well would you believe their Rapper's Delight
went down in history, hahaha!

"Oh, yes, it's good to be the Queen" is right. Here's to ya Sylvia, and all these wonderful songs which you brought to us!

I have had a hard time relocating this CD. I bought it while on vacation in Charleston, S.C. Since then, I have tried to buy it for friends, and have not found it. I searched amazon and CD now, and at this time, they do not list this CD. It is listed on half.com, but no one currently has one for sale. The only other person I know who has this CD is a DJ, and he tends to rely on this CD a lot (a testament to its quality).

If you see this album anywhere, it is a great album to pick up. It's the roots of rap, without all the grit and grime that gangster rap introduced into the industry. There are few swears, and I can't think of any negative messages on this CD. If those are the only things that keep you away from rap, then this CD is for you!

Great Music to Play While:

Driving in your new Jetta, or while DJing.