6 Music

BBC 6

Seven More Days that Rocked the World

Documentaries

Music: Classic Pop & Rock

Frank Wilson

Seven More Days that Rocked the World: The Release of Rapper's Delight

The Release of Rapper's Delight

12/08/2011

BBC Radio 6 Music - Seven More Days that Rocked the World, The Release of Rapper's Delight

Stuart Maconie remembers the 1979 multi-platinum seller Rapper's Delight.

Stuart Maconie remembers the 1979 multi-platinum seller and massive radio hit that kick started the hip-hop phenomenon.

As 6 Music celebrates hip-hop, there's another chance to hear Stuart Maconie recalling the release of Rapper's Delight by the Sugarhill Gang in 1979. It became a multi-platinum seller and massive radio hit, and is regarded to have kick-started the phenomenon of recorded hip-hop.

Despite having received considerable chart success, selling over 8 million copies worldwide and inspiring hits by the likes of Blondie and Queen, the music industry as a whole reacted contemptuously; insisting that rap was a short-lived trend, simply a whim or fad.

Stuart looks the ways the track inspired a generation; how three local New York rappers plucked from the relative obscurity of underground block parties contributed towards rap becoming the biggest selling and most popular genres in music today.

BBC Radio 6 Music

Classic concerts & sessions from the BBC's vast music store. It's your musical heritage.

BBC 6 Music brings together the cutting edge music of today, the iconic and groundbreaking music of the past 40 years and unlimited access

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Seven More Days that Rocked the World

The Release of Rapper's Delight

Contributors

Genres

Formats

Brand

6 Music

About BBC Radio 6 Music