The Sugarhill Gang

This claim is attributed to the lyrics "I'm the C-A-S-S-N-O-V-A and the rest is F-L-Y " used by Big Bank Hank in the song, at the time Grandmaster Caz regularly referred to himself as "Cassanova Fly"; but the Sugarhill Gang's place in music history seems secure as the first hip hop group to have a Gold single. Muhammad went on to found the R&B group Lucy Pearl and to also pursue a solo career. In addition, Grandmaster Caz from the Cold Crush Brothers claims that Sugarhill Gang member Big Bank Hank used his rhymes on Rapper's Delight. Q-Tip and Phife Dawg went on to pursue independent solo careers. The term "rap" is also claimed to be derrived from the title of this hit. Following their final album, the group disbanded. Some claim that "Rapper's Delight" is the first hip-hop single ever; it was actually preceded by "King Tim III" by the Fatback Band. The Low End Theory was followed by Midnight Marauders (1993), Beats, Rhymes and Life (1996) and The Love Movement (1998).

They continue to tour. It is considered one of the most important hip-hop albums to date. In 1999 (see 1999 in music), they reunited and recorded Jump on It, a hip hop children's album. Though this album was critically acclaimed and lead to a strong fan following, their next album, The Low End Theory (1991) was a massive artistic success, appearing on several best of the year lists. The Sugarhill Gang never again topped the charts, though they had a few minor hits, such as "Apache," "Eighth Wonder," "Rapper's Reprise [Jam Jam]" and "Showdown" (with the Furious Five). They made their studio debut in 1990 with People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm. The song was a #36 hit on the US pop chart and a #4 hit on the US R&B chart in 1979 (see 1979 in music), though hip-hop was dismissed as a brief fad. Musically, the group helped pioneer the jazz-rap style (along with groups such as Gang Starr and De La Soul).

They were assembled into a group up by producer Sylvia Robinson who also founded Sugar Hill Records along with her husband record mogul Joe Robinson. Their lyrics focused on abstract and social issues such as the word "nigger", date rape and consumerism. The members, all from New York City, called themselves Wonder Mike, Big Bank Hank, and Master Gee. At the time of their inception, A Tribe Called Quest was extremely unique within the hip-hop community for eschewing gangsta rap and macho posturing.
The Sugarhill Gang is an American hip hop group, known mostly for one hit, "Rapper's Delight", the first hip hop single to become a Top 40 hit. Soon after, the group began performing live and recording on a local label. The group's name was coined by The Jungle Brothers, whose members attended the same school.

Q-Tip and Phife had grown up together in Queens, and met Muhammad in high school. The group is comprised of Q-Tip, Phife Dawg, and DJ Ali Shaheed Muhammad. A Tribe Called Quest is an influential rap group of the 1990s, originally formed in Queens, New York City in 1988. The Love Movement, 1999.

Beats, Rhymes and Life, 1996. Midnight Marauders, 1993. The Low End Theory, 1991. People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm, 1990.