The Sugarhill Gang have long been regarded as legends in the Hip Hop game, but now, they’ve received some more of their flowers while they can still smell them.
The Evening Standard has reported that their induction into the Music Walk of Fame — which happened in the London borough of Camden, England on Wednesday (September 6) — involved getting a stone with their name inscribed on it placed on a path. The Hip Hop pioneers were celebrated for their contributions to music, as a genre, overall.
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Other nominees this year included Janis Joplin and UB40.
“I did this in a little town called Englewood, New Jersey, in the US and now I’m in Camden Town in London, and the whole city is here honoring what we’ve done, so this is a little bit much for me, but I appreciate it,” said founding member Master Gee to the outlet. “I feel like I don’t believe that it is happening, it is still not really normal to think that when I cut this record at 17 that my life would be this way.”
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He later paid tribute to Sylvia Robinson, who is often dubbed “The Mother of Hip Hop” and was the driving force behind such songs as “Rapper’s Delight” by the Sugarhill Gang and “The Message” by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. She originally got her start as one-half of the doo wop duo Mickey & Sylvia, who had a smash hit with “Love is Strange,” which was featured on the Dirty Dancing soundtrack.
“This is a mind-blowing experience for us, there was no way when Ms (Sylvia) Robinson came to us and told us about what she wanted to do that this was going to be the result of it,” he said. “I literally thought, because I was 17 (in) junior year going to senior year, we’d cut the record, it’d be big in the New York Metropolitan area, I would go to 12th grade and try and figure out what I was going to do with my life. I was sadly mistaken and totally wrong because we’re in another part of the world doing something I used to do in people’s basements.”
Speaking of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, founding members Scorpio, and Melle Mel are still hoping for a Verzuz battle between themselves and the Sugar Hill Gang.
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Back in 2021, Scorpio published a heartfelt letter to Verzuz co-founders Swizz Beatz and Timbaland, imploring them to set up a battle between the two pioneers.
After thanking Swizz and Timbo for creating the platform, Scorpio wrote, “As one of the pioneers of Hip Hop, I would like to submit a proposal for your consideration on behalf of The Furious 5 featuring Melle Mel & Scorpio and The Sugarhill Gang. Continued success. Looking forward to discussing an opportunity to be a part of the platform.”
