The Story Behind “Rapper’s Delight” (feat. Retta) - Drunk History

In the early days of hip-hop, Sylvia Robinson assembled the Sugarhill Gang to record the world-changing song “Rapper’s Delight.”
About Drunk History:
Based on the popular web series, Drunk History is the liquored-up narration of our nation's history. Host Derek Waters, along with an ever-changing cast of actors and comedians, travels across the country to present the rich tales that every city in this land has to offer. Booze helps bring out the truth. It's just that sometimes the truth is a little incoherent.
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[@spleerfloof]

An important historical tidbit here is that the term “hip-hop“ did not exist before rappers delight came out. The lyrics include the words hip-hop, hippity hop” and so when people came into the record stores to ask for that record, they said “heywhere is that hip hop record?” And that is what led to the whole genre being called hip-hop. I love that! EDIT: VH1 Documentary “AND You Don’t Stop: 30 Years of Hip Hop” was a 5-hour $2M documentary that first aired in 2004.

[@djskizmarkey]

thats not it,youre wrong,,i can elaborate if needed

[@khaliddontplay818]

VilifiedVapez please do

[@chriskyan6344]

It's more based of the sound of a parade/soldiers marching.

[@paulwagner688]

It was hip hop long before Sugarhill. Herc and Coke LaRock coined it

[@shiestysean]

spleerfloof dxpe

[@nanigahoshii7588]

So the moral of the story. Parents go out clubbing with your kids.

[@ShaithMaster]

It's a black thing apparently. My ex's dad used to go to the club with us and it was incredibly uncomfortable for me lol.

[@ataurusqueenofzion916]

@@ShaithMaster first time I went clubbing was with my uncle,cousin, sister and his 'secretary'. I was 15 at the time and he even let us drink alcohol for the first time. Only bad part was getting hit on by adult males. We vowed to never spill the beans to my parents. I miss my cool uncle.

[@neceynecey4679]

Block Party in reality

[@valeriebutler716]

Moral: Black Women are Amazing.

[@newclothes8165]

LOL

[@telikaandfam]

All these men are credited for starting hip-hop Whenever there is recognition it's men that is credited no one has ever mentioned Sylvia and she started it all

[@kmariamv]

Telika Howard this needs to be a pinned comment

[@kadeshiamatthews4214]

Respect her hustle, vision and her genius, but Sylvia Robinson didn't start it all since the rapping clearly existed before she came along. What she did pioneer was rap's commodification, realizing that it could be recorded and sold on a grand scale (not just the occasional neighborhood mixtape) just like any other type of music. Unfortunately though, according to several artists who were on her label, Sugar Hill Records, she and her husband seem to have followed the industry model of shady business practices. A Billboard article a few weeks ago gave more detail if you're interested in a fuller, non-drunk version of the history: billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8533108/sugar-hill-records-sylvia-robinson-hip-hop-godmother

[@Eyezpopmusic]

That’s because she did not start at all she was an important figure in it she did not start it grandmaster flowers and several musicians in the 50s as well

[@kingsaintides7227]

She didnt start jack...as you see, these dudes were rapping BEFORE she went to the club.Hip hop is a culture Graf, b boying, popping and breakdancing and emceeing and dee jaying are the 5 elements. They all existed before this money grabbing witch came in the game.

[@MastinoNapoletano420]

She didn't start a damn thing...if anything she stole it from the kids who wanted to keep it underground, that's why when she approached the actual artists that were throwing these parties, they all said straight up, you can't put this on a record, we aren't interested, so she built the first hip hop boy band and commercialized the sound...all she did was speed up was already going to happen, white kids in Manhattan were going to the Bronx for these underground parties and vice versa, Flash would go do shows in Manhattan and chill with the likes of Blondie, Lou Reed and Iggy Pop just to name a few...break music(the original name) and punk music held hands and realized they had a lot in common...they didn't want to be commercialized and lose their souls...there was a connection there that brought 2 totally separate worlds together and it was beautiful...

[@DiscordBeing]

Two of my favorite vastly underutilized and undderrated black actors in one drunk history? Yas queen.

[@dillonleavelle6871]

Retta is a GODDESS

[@adamnoturfuknbusiness2367]

run that by me again in english

[@pringle584]

And they are both so hilarious!!!!!!

[@nkechi4635]

@@adamnoturfuknbusiness2367 ?? can you not read?

[@ariaisnthereanymore3051]

Two icons tbh

[@Ava-zo9xi]

Urkel, Retta, and the high animal control guy narrating😭what did we do to deserve this masterpiece

[@doctorgs8086]

His name is Brett.

[@biscuitninja]

1000% yes!

[@lizlemon9589]

And Urkel.

[@dieseltyme]

So basically she was the original Puff Daddy

[@samaraisnt]

Except not annoying, lol!

[@bethanychatman9531]

Except she paid people

[@jamardns77]

@@bethanychatman9531 that man has ruined so many lives lol

[@thoomolong]

@@bethanychatman9531 no she didn't. She ripped off hella artists.

[@1995arv]

Puff Mommy

[@Skeezer66]

Rapper's Delight did for hip-hop/rap what Rock Around the Clock did for rock and roll; it wasn't the first, or best, but it brought the music to national and international audiences and changed pop music forever.

[@HectorHernandez-yb7dr]

The Parks Department and half of the Animal Control unit. That's wassup.

[@shawnuel]

Hector Hernandez unfortunately the other half, Harris Wittels, died of an overdose shortly after Parks wrapped the series finale.

[@boppob1343]

RIP Harris Wittel :/ So fucking tragic

[@aldiggty]

Shawn McLaughlin You really had me thinking the real guy died. I forgot his name was harris in the show. Nevermind...

[@amazingabby25]

Aldiggty no it was both like office, used real names

[@seopark7467]

@@aldiggty the real guy died

[@darkcontinentschild2962]

“FYI, I’m a f**kn monster man”🤣😂🤣

[@gracewenzel]

Third "I don't know if this makes any sense, but I'm drunk, so I don't care." 😆

[@caitlinnearhood1721]

I spy Jaleel White

[@Fresh_Biscuits]

No shit? I missed him. Where was he?

[@adsr3870]

@@Fresh_Biscuits Grandmaster Caz!

[@hauntingjourney]

2:35

[@Fresh_Biscuits]

@@adsr3870 lol i dont know how i missed that! Thank you

[@charliecundiff]

Came here for this

[@shaibullard8870]

Anybody else thought the guy on the couch look like uncle Phil?

[@bocatcc]

Erkle was pissed that it wasn't rap. He was in the back of the room pissed

[@mariodavidpalacio]

EXACTLY like uncle Phil

[@Dashtea]

Hell yes haha

[@AllusernamesgoneFUCK]

Yea, i was looking for this comment lol

[@2Bills]

Looks like the guy from superstore

[@ronronsrampage]

Retta rocked this episode, she is a great actress. This episode was everything, funny, clever and a much needed throwback in HipHop history.

[@adsr3870]

What the actual... Urkel?! That you?!

[@Moneyg73]

Jaleel White. He has a name

[@ElPayasoMalo]

You all wrong! That's Sonic the Hedgehog!

[@splendidtorch7800]

@@ElPayasoMalo honestly i relate to this lmfaoo i didn't grow up with Family Matters but you know i had that old Sonic SatAM on DVD when i was a kid

[@bimbop7693]

Omg he's all grown up! I wouldn't have even noticed it was him.

[@ParentalDiscretionIsAdvised]

C. Wildeman i read this with Samuel L Jackson’s voice

[@rainflower764]

“I have to pee”, got me laughing 😂

[@JamesOKeefe-US]

The actors acting under the voice overs are so brilliantly dead on. I just kept rewinding and watching. It must have taken forever to get it so perfect. Hilarious!!! 👍PS, Retta and Colton Dunn are national treasures!!

[@kevincolbertjr.6844]

I just realized that was Jahleel White as "Grandmaster Caz"

[@beccasmith1276]

He played Martin Luther King jr. In the first interracial kiss on star trek's drunk history episode

[@MsJai_1]

One of the BEST Drunk History performances ever!!! 🤣🤣🤣

[@toriw3954]

Rhetta created hip hop? legit.

[@123haninhk]

Need a movie about this.

[@rocklesson86]

Yes

[@kmlac6596]

Absolutely!

[@blahblahblahyasmine4515]

If you watched The Get Down on Netflix they somewhat address the hate the song got.

[@CharnHorpee]

The get down is literally this entire part of history, but Sylvia is a bad guy in the show

[@carrotcake6572]

Matthew in a lot of ways she is the bad guy

[@BrianLottermann]

I love the non-copyright-infringing version of Good Times at 4:16 haha shoutout to the music director

[@beauxbromwell5121]

I wish this video explained how important Sylvia Robinson was she was one of the first black female guitarist and lead singer on the song Love is Strange featured in Dirty Dancing

[@theharshtruth8563]

That has nothing to do with Rappers Delight and there are female blues artists that pre-date her as far as female guitarists.

[@ExposedRoot]

Don't know if this is factual but i was there in the heart of Queens in late 70's early 80's and when this song hit the airways and it was incredible. Even though it was not as hard as what we were used to on our street corners and in the park it was in the radio and that was good enough. Love this rendition!!!

[@kmariamv]

ExposedRoot what part of Queens were you in?

[@Hottielvr]

It’s so weird how black music was so overlooked you could steal something that had already been published and already put out lmao

[@thehoneyeffect]

Yeah racism is weird isnt it

[@kissit012]

Was? This is still happening

[@carrotcake6572]

kissit012 in what world is black music overlooked today

[@ParentalDiscretionIsAdvised]

kissit012 it was never NOT happening

[@ParentalDiscretionIsAdvised]

Carrot Cake the ENTIRE world!

[@jogomez6477]

The giggle at 3:36 took me out 🤣

[@rasarmusic1]

That moment you realize commercial hip hop wasn’t based in the “keepin it real” ethos from its inception. Btw, this is amazing.

[@dbalexan]

Wait for the end there...”I’m good”. 😂 🤣🤣

[@fernforwood3989]

Story of how Hip-Hop was made into a product.

[@Eyezpopmusic]

#exactly

[@docfabz]

When a culture gets commercialized

[@fernforwood3989]

docfabz Exactly what they did with Rock & Roll.

[@chocolateheaven882]

Retta’s face at 2:06 I’m sobbing lmao

[@WigglyTuffStuff]

2:09 the sheer unbelievable disbelief 😂😂

[@anybodycanart]

Never heard this before...a woman started this!

[@allanhoward2512]

Yes a woman started it them tell you what there want u to know

[@thabisomokoma6830]

A Black Woman!

[@Eyezpopmusic]

Actually, the story is much more than this and the story is also a lot wrong so keep that in mind that this is a television show a comedy show at that

[@kissit012]

And folk, blues, jazz, soul, country...

[@ezakustam]

Started the commercialization?

[@MelindaChovexani]

XD that drunken beatbox lesson was so pure

[@shiruchu620]

is it weird to think that colton looks likes James Avery ?

[@Dildonion]

Dude thank you I thought the same thing

[@bakasarma2862]

I thought so too!! I think it’s the bald Head tho

[@veghead05]

Finally... God. That's what i couldn't put my finger on

[@sdseals2076]

I was thinking that, too.

[@DennisBiegel]

My first thought, he looks like Uncle Phil!

[@Whosaskin]

I lov3 the face she makes when Big Bank Hank is rapping in the pizza parlor.

[@willtheangrydudeist9120]

I was waiting to see if dude knew Hank didn't write his rhymes on Rappers Delight... Respect

[@johnrb0213]

The way Grandmaster Caz tells it...sounds more like hank jacked his rhymes.

[@sweezcheez]

Yep. Herc will tell the same story

[@craigreed1638]

@@sweezcheez Caz gave Hank the rhymes. His own words in a interview then his story changed. Listen to Caz at 2:45 in this clip kzbin.info/www/bejne/mX2YcnmGf82rr6c

[@paxotium7971]

I'm old enough to clearly remember this blowing up.

[@calebclunie4001]

Can I get in the Hot Tub?Yeeoooowwww!

[@kmariamv]

Where was the first place you heard the song?

[@paxotium7971]

@@kmariamv I was in the Marines at the time, they would play it at E-clubs. (On base nightclubs)

[@kperez-wq3iy]

@kamariamv..I was in the Army. We were on a TDY assignment at West Point. We use to party in this club outside the base. Many years ago, but I still remember it. Good Times.

[@sabahbubbler]

Ah, pawnee's finest animal control

[@TheeBabyDollJenny]

Omg he’s so freaking cute and I absolutely adore Retta! P.S. I can’t wait for more Super Store & Good Girls!

[@veronicatolbert4798]

Why he look like uncle Phil?

[@jazmadethat9635]

Veronica Tolbert bruh he do 😂

[@lauradoesart]

Man I was staring at the screen thinking he came back to life 😭

[@veronicatolbert4798]

I was confused like damn uncle Phil son look just like him twins lol

[@kakiclements4581]

This was one of the better narrated Drunk Historys. 10/10 on the dialogue. Well-scripted, drunk Colton. Bravo.

[@TheLadyDelirium]

I tried to beatbox during the video. I absolutely cannot do it and I'm glad no one saw me discover that.

[@harrymeepharry]

god I love Retta

[@BassGods]

0:13 That's "Big Sheila" Robinson. 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂

[@chickenlizard2381]

Very cool story. To this day--Still know every word in that rhyme

[@chevonkeller5089]

I love these lil stories. lol .😂

[@Josh-dg6yb]

This story and cast tho, it’s like Christmas came early! 🤗

[@roxxylala26]

Sylvia Robinson had the vision. What a genius & entrepreneur to bring what she heard & bring it to the masses. Definitely the GODMOTHER OF HIP HOP-

[@theharshtruth8563]

She was more of a con-woman than an entrepreneur. She did not pay her "black" artists or compensate them properly. She also didn't pay her taxes and went bankrupt in 1985. It took a "man" (Russel Simmons) to come along and do it the "legal" and "right" way before it was done right. Sylvia is not a hero. She was a thug just like her husband.

[@DoctorPretorious616]

Great episode, thanks for giving props to Sylvia Robinson for her role in the birth of hip-hop as we know it! Oh, and who else just wants a big ol' HUG from Retta?

[@Sleipnirseight]

His voice cracks me up so much, and the actors trying to personify it is pure gold

[@Sunflower_soul]

Well this answers my question if he was really in a wheelchair or not 😂

[@elijahlawrence8010]

Kytana Broadnax he was also the stoner animal control guy in Parks and Rec

[@theylied1776]

Run DMC used to tell their version of Rappers Delight and how it inspired them, changed their lives, and how that inspiration helped start def jam records.

[@treehouse318]

Retta has to be in more Drunk History videos! :)

[@jaelzion]

I was 13 when "Rapper's Delight" came out and like all my friends, I knew every. single. word.

[@brittanyvest5781]

Shiiittt! Shit. Shit. Shit. Derek "beat boxing" was all I never knew I needed! I can't stop...ahahaaa laughing!!!

[@iamblessed513]

Herc used to have the baddest parties in the boogie down....we heard it all....great times.

[@amazongirl13]

Lol love this actor, he s like you want me to do a drunk history, ima get turnt the F up!

[@ItsTinaTimeXOXO]

😂😂😂 I swear I love drunk history.

[@SHELUVDELON]

I’m 17 and from the Passaic,paterson,Clifton triangle area in jersey and my grandma and great grandma worked at White Castle and we’re great with all of them and I got the honor of meeting them

[@sexxymixxedgurl49]

I watch drunk history and it's so funny because there chillaxin telling there version of what they think happens🤣as time goes on there drunk.

[@irishboy_pa]

Grandmaster kaz was like did I do that 😂

[@gilmoremccoy6930]

WOW, I had no idea how it all went down 😍👍! This stuff is funny 😂😂😂😂 and you learn something as well 💞, love it.

[@inthrutheoutdoor5849]

That is one of the best "drunk" videos yet... I wish you would have played some of the raps in it..See I am wonder Mike and I'd like to say hello.. To the black, to the white, the red and the brown, the purple and yellow....Good stuff....

[@EmilyPayton]

Jaleel White makin another awesome appearance on Drunk History!

[@Demogorgo]

Stefan Urquelle was really Grandmaster Caz, all this time

[@alexhauptmann298]

...this dude's 909 snare is on point. Damn.

[@rickachumusic]

His legs work 🤯🤯🤯

[@sarahdixon1943]

The most important part was how it came to be called hip hop. People wanted to buy the album, but didn't know the name so they'd ask for ,"that hip hop song" .. The first few lines say "Hip hop ..." ...

[@loverrboyy2879]

Retta seems like a joy to be around

[@DJ71867]

That song open my ears wide. Then ever since then, I was in love with hip hop. I wouldn't let my friends sing over this song, til this day.❤💋

[@FirstNation1492]

If you seen the "Get down" then you would know this is Cadillacs Mama fat anne, but she took them for that record, left them with a dead cat in a bag. Was that jaleel White 5:05 anything but S.erkel huh.

[@kevincolbertjr.6844]

Yeah that was him. I had to double back. The man is getting his bag! Have you seen him on "Historical Roasts" on Netflix? He was in two roasts,and he killed it!

[@Malkmusianful]

i love how this story acknowledges that Big Bank Hank took Grandmaster Caz's rhymes on short notice

[@brandyrose9997]

With one eye squinting "I'm good."

[@rayanthony7463]

Does anyone remember that Fatback's "King Tim the III" was being played on the radio weeks before "Rapper's Delight" was introduced on to air waves?

[@Skeezer66]

Uhhh . ... . no. No disrepect intended. That might have been a local hit, but I don't recall it ever being played here in Philly, while "Rapper's Delight" was EVERYWHERE!

[@rayanthony7463]

@@Skeezer66- both songs were originated in New York City area and 92 WKTU in NYC was the radio station at that time playing both songs, but by a month later Rapper's Delight was all over the place and King Tim the III was practically forgotten.

[@bigwebsite727]

Damn the early mcs had some serious integrity all saying no like that

[@princesskaguya2000]

Rettas facial expressions! Bwahahhaaha!

[@GottagitchaGROOOVEon]

He looks like a younger version of Uncle Phil from the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.😅

[@missnene9157]

She is indeed a f’ing genius! Now I shall go and listen to that rap! Lol

[@calebclunie4001]

Sylvia Robinson was also a rhythm guitarist and vocalist in a Rock And Roll duo, called Mickey And Sylvia, and cut a hit record, "Love Is Strange", way back in 1956. Later, in the '70's, she had another hit called "Pillow Talk". A European band called Lustt covered "Pillow Talk", and that was sampled by Saint Pepsi (aka Skylar Spence, aka Ryan DeRobertis), for his Future Funk track "Private Caller". All of this, and was the Godmother of Hip-Hop.

[@xSadJamieex]

I love this song and I had no idea Jaleel could time travel. Urkle couldn't do that 😹

[@sweezcheez]

Caz NEVER gave Hank permission to use his rhymes. Hank was a manager for early 70s hip hop and SHOULD have sent Sylvia to Caz instead of pretending to be a rapper by using Caz's rhymes. Why else would Hank say he's the C-A-S A N O-V-A and the rest is F-L-Y?? Grandmaster Caz's original name was Casanova Fly. Listen to MC's Delight instead lol

[@craigreed1638]

2:45 of this clip. Caz own words kzbin.info/www/bejne/mX2YcnmGf82rr6c

[@ElizabethT45]

I was 12 when Rapper's Delight came out (1977) and I remember roller-skating to it, dancing to it, and hearing out on the radio. But all this time I never knew about Sylvia Robinson or that "Good Times" by Chic was the background music!

[@kathleenwest1463]

Daaamn, we should have been friends! In 77 I was a 12 year old roller skating fiend, shouting along with the lyrics!

[@theharshtruth8563]

Chic "Good times" came out in the summer of 79, Rappers Delight came out in the Fall of 79. Not 77.

[@amywells8609]

I had the pleasure of meeting a few of these guys at a blackjack table in Reno years ago. They were so nice ❤️

[@chrystallee5528]

This was excellent! Please do some more on hip hop history.

[@zamakhumalo5860]

Agreed

[@anitarichmond8930]

Word, I was just listening to this the other day. Classic 🎧

[@sdovas]

Actually, Joey Robinson had a 'fro about the size of the rock of Gibraltar.

[@malfattio2894]

They did a great job with the colour grading

[@ChildofGodforevr]

Awe man those were the BEST of times. Old school rap is the best rap ever. I used to have such a crush on Kurtis Blow. I love anything about 80's rap era.

[@babywhatdisay8249]

The term "Hip Hop" as a title did not come about until later on. I would say more like the mid-80's believe it, or not. At least in NYC. Lived it! Had friends who wrapped, and who were break dancers. The term we used back in the day was just "Rap". Seriously, people did not say "Hip Hop". The other thing, Beat Box came later on as well. There were a few people who did Beat Box, but it really became a thing with a group called The Fat Boys, and later with Doug E. Fresh, and Biz Markie. Have to be very careful how people tell our stories, because in the process they rewrite our history.

[@Anonymous-ux3tu]

Best drunk history.

[@PositiveZ7]

Nice.This is one of my fav songs, especially like Wonder Mike. Cool I had no idea a woman helped to make this happen.

[@JPMJPM]

A woman in a mansion, no less!

[@paulwagner688]

Yeah, but Hank stole all his stuff from Grandmaster Caz

[@PositiveZ7]

@@paulwagner688 Too bad Grandmaster C didn't take the opportunity when it was presented.

[@paulwagner688]

In Hip Hop Evolution Caz never said he was approached, I don't think.

[@theharshtruth8563]

Hip Hop was started by Kool Herc (a male) in 73. Bam and Flash (Both black males) perfected on it in 75. Sylvia was late to the party (79) and she didn't start anything... the only thing she did was exploit it for her own selfish needs at the expense of both male and female artists which she did not give any publishing to. She also didn't pay her artists & she stole credit for songs she didn't get the rights to and she avoided paying taxes which shut her business down in 1985. Her greed was her own demise. It doesn't surprise me that a "female" was responsible for all the irresponsible things that came along in the business and it took a MAN (Russel Simmons) to come along and pick up where she fell and do it the "RIGHT" way. Russel Simmons is truly the founder of a "Successful" record label which is still running to this day ....unlike Sylvia's label which she took more time avoiding taxes than she did paying her artist.

[@ringo1692]

Every neighborhood needs a rapping beatboxing pizza guy 🍺😎👍🤟🤑🤙

[@shaamilli3934]

2:00 Pure GOLD!!

[@creedewylie267]

Uncle Phil in fresh prince remake 20 years from now

[@sunnymarie2060]

Her family had a reality show. She was a genius though

[@freshencounter]

First take?!?! So Amazing! Gonna listen and sing along in the morning! Thanks! 😁

[@Psychol-Snooper]

I like hot butter on my breakfast toast!

[@Y-Luv42blackryno]

A yo Marvin LOL😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@ET_Bermuda]

It's Steff On! Not Urkel! Not Jaleel!

[@TokyoTraveller]

"What are the newest shapes?" "Baby powder made out of babies??" That's the crazy question guy from "If Google was a guy"

[@elijahlawrence8010]

TokyoTraveller also parks and rec and superstore

[@TokyoTraveller]

@@elijahlawrence8010 Ok, I've never seen those shows, but he's a good actor.

[@elijahlawrence8010]

TokyoTraveller yes he is!

[@Eyezpopmusic]

There’s a lot of things in this story is wrong but I love wonder Mike and master G