The Sugarhill Gang Albums (4)
What The Critics Say
While they didn't garner the critical praise of their label cohorts, Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five, the Sugarhill Gang still produced their share of memorable slices of early hip-hop. Helping to bring Sylvia Robinson's Sugar Hill Records into the limelight, the label's namesake group erred more on the funk side of the hip-hop equation, plying a steamy, all-night mix of go-go grooves, straight funk singing, and rapping. 8th Wonder features the hits "Apache" and the title track, as well as such slick funk burners as "Hot Hot Summer Day" and the incredible bit of uptown dance alchemy "Funk Box" (shades of Prince here). 8th Wonder may not be as good a starting point for newcomers as roundups on Rhino and Sequel, but it certainly will be one fans won't want to miss. ~ Stephen Cook, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Try to picture the late '70s: disco is burning up the pop charts, Carter's in office, and in the clubs and streets of New York City a style of music is beginning thrive within the African American community. Dismissed by some as a passing trend, rap was overlooked by major labels. Sylvia Robinson, a small time record label owner, decided to take a chance on the sound with a novelty record. To put it together she assembled Big Bank Hank, Wonder Mike, and Master Gee. The trio cut the 14-minute single "Rappers Delight." The rest, so to speak, is history. While the actual lyrical style could be traced back to scat and jump blues, at the time it sounded incredibly fresh and, as a result, the single achieved world wide success. Twenty years later the "passing fad" has become one of the most influential musical genres in American history, taking its place along side jazz, blues, rock & roll, and countless other fusion styles. Now when people think back to the days of "the old school" it seems like a fond trip down memory lane. To help the nostalgia the Sugar Hill Gang released a 20th anniversary collection highlighting their music from this era. In addition to "Rappers Delight" the album contains some of their other, but not nearly as successful, singles including "Hot, Hot, Summer Day," "Apache," and "Sugar Hill Groove." In its musicological context the music sounds like an offshoot of disco and funk, so it's almost a wonder the genre broke out at all. Still, with the seemingly endless stream of commercialized nonsense that dominated the genre in the 1990s, these old songs still sound fresh and fun. As a result this album could still get the party going just as it did back in the day. ~ Curtis Zimmermann, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
The longtime reissue label Rhino Records made a transition from faithful historian to active participant in the world of modern music with Jump on It!, the first new album by the Sugarhill Gang in more than 15 years. Combining their recent emphasis on old-school rap and children's records, label executives brought Big Bank Hank, Master G, and Wonder Mike back together to record an album of updated Schoolhouse Rock-type raps. Each of the ten songs are message tracks, beginning with the title track, a shout-out to kids that they're never too young to start reaching for their dreams. Other tracks focus on either specific educational subjects ("ABC's," "The Vowels," "Last Day of School") or on subjects more generally beneficial for kids' well-being ("Fireworks," "Sugar Hill Groove," "My Little Playmate"). As fun and educational as Jump on It! is for kids, though, this album is a non-starter for hip-hop fans. The trio's raps haven't progressed beyond (and may have even fallen back from) "Rapper's Delight," and from the sounds of it, Jump on It! was recorded in much the same way as all the classic material from Sugar Hill Records -- the music credits go to the Sugar Hill House Band, though individual members aren't listed. It's a much better tack than trying to update the Sugarhill Gang for the late-'90s hip-hop world, but this children's album doesn't make any kind of transition to adult audiences. ~ Keith Farley, All Music Guide
'Livin' in the Fast Lane'
Release Date 1/1/1984
Tracks 7
Label Sugar Hill
See Album Tracklist and Review
